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Humanitarian crisis looms large in the Jaffna peninsula

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Colombo appeals to Government of India for supply of relief goods

COLOMBO: With curfew in force for the eighth successive day and no end in sight to the fighting between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, a humanitarian crisis seems looming large in the Jaffna peninsula.

Because of the intensity of the fighting, all routes to the peninsula are closed. Air operations are suspended and the sea traffic has come to a standstill. Food stocks and medical supplies are fast running out.

Alarmed over the developing situation, the Government of Sri Lanka is believed to have approached India for supply of relief goods. "We have approached India for supply of goods from Chennai," Sri Lankan Government spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told The Hindu . However, sources in the Indian mission said they are not aware of such a request.

Reports from the peninsula suggest that there is a serious shortage of fuel and people are reeling under prolonged power cuts. Telecommunication links are badly affected because of the power situation.

The international and national community here is seriously worried about the prospect of a major crisis. Colombo-based diplomats raised the subject at a special briefing given to them by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Wednesday.

Grave situation

Such is the gravity of the situation that at the meeting there was a suggestion to the Government to allow "safe passage" for people wanting to leave the peninsula. The Minister said since the suggestion involved a larger question, the Government needed to look into it. He, however, assured the envoys that the Government has enlisted the services of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to send a shipload of relief goods to the peninsula.

Minister for Disaster Relief M.I.S.M. Ameer Ali told The Hindu that a shipload of relief goods under the supervision of the ICRC is being despatched to the peninsula.

"We are conscious of the enormous hardships of the people in the peninsula thanks to the LTTE. We are doing everything possible to relieve their travails. We also have a request for 1,000 tents in the Batticaloa district to house the displaced. Unfortunately, there is shortage of tents in the country. We are trying to arrange from outside", the Minister said.

The situation in the LTTE-controlled territory in the north is also grim. According to Jayalath Jayawardena, a Member of Parliament, the fighting has resulted in serious shortage of life-saving medicines.

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