10,000 people still stranded in the LTTE's Human Shield in Vakarai

Sri Lanka News

Another 8000 to 10,000 civilians are waiting to find their way to government control areas, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said today at a media briefing held in Colombo. Most of these people are elders and ailing.

In the meantime, the flowing of displaced people from LTTE held areas to cleared areas is still continuing. According to official statistics, up to yesterday (01) since 1st November 2006 23,189 people have moved in to the safety of the Government controlled areas where as the previous figures stated only 7,709 individuals since 1st July 2006 till 31st October 2006. These people - 4,501 boys, 4,556 girls, 7563 women, 6569 men - belong to 7,349 families.

And in Trincomalee district alone, since 5th August up to 20th December 2006 7,104 individuals have moved in to the Government controlled areas from the Tiger strongholds.

Civilians still stranded in Vakarai and its vicinity are mainly from Upparu, Rasalkuli, Manirasakulam and South of Sampur areas, where at the present the Sri Lankan troops have consolidated their control. The Tigers are forcibly holding these innocent civilians and the effort of the Government of informing the LTTE through the truce monitors to free the people to reach safety areas through the A15 road is paused due to the current recall of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission staff from their activities in these conflict affected areas.

These civilians have to find a hard way risking their lives, through the jungles and the lagoon for many days to reach in to cleared areas, as they are not allowed to use the A15 road.

The government is providing adequate facilities to the people moved in to the Army controlled areas, who are accommodated at 61 welfare camps both in Trincomalee and Batticaloa, maintained and secured by the Army. The camps are located most in Schools, churches and in Temples. The District Secretary and some Non Governmental Organisations are engaged in looking after the welfare of the displaced persons.

Courtesy: Government Information Department