Exodus in east continue as LTTE crouch to Thoppigala

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

Civilians in large numbers started fleeing the un-cleared areas in East while groups of littered terrorist were grouping in Thoppigala, the final terrorist resort in the eastern frontier.

According to reports an estimated number of 400 civilians had arrived in Polwatta, one mile south of Valachchenai, Batticaloa, today (25). The latest figures indicate the numbers have increased over 1600 IDPs within the past 48 hours.

Tamil civilians who have long endured terrible suffering under the LTTE, crossed over to the cleared areas of Vakarai, north of Batticaloa. The awareness of LTTE duplicity has made the civilians desperate enough to brave the thick jungles and arrive in the government controlled areas.

Meanwhile, Security forces with the assistance of the ICRC officials has made preparations, to provide shelter, food and basic humanitarian aids to the IDPs reaching Polwattha through Thoppigala and Kiran, in the un-cleared boundaries.

Military officials stated that, medical teams were also placed in Polwattha, to immediately assist the influx of IDPs, especially women, children and adults. Efforts were also taken to upgrade the sanitary conditions in the area.

The humanitarian mission to liberate the eastern coast began as a response to the desperate calls from the thousands stranded under the LTTE clutches.

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