Air strikes: Mullaitivu residents want to move

By Chris Kamalendran

Residents in the coastal areas of rebel-controlled Mullaitivu have urged the district secretary to resettle them in interior areas in the wake of frequent air strikes. Some 5,000 permanent residents of Uppumavali, Alampil and Sillavattai of the Maritime Pattu Divisional Secretariat area have said they want to be resettled in safe places as the air strikes were continuing with the latest being in the Alampil area where a sea Tiger base was reportedly bombed.

Majority of the residents have been those who were living in the areas affected by the tsunami and resettled with permanent houses being constructed for them by various international and local NGOs.

District Secretary Emelda Sukumar told The Sunday Times the government was not in a position to resettle the residents as they were already living in houses which had been constructed for them and there were no government funds for the purpose. In a related development, all NGOs and INGOs have pulled out from Mullaitivu on the instructions of the LTTE.

The World Food Programme (WFP), which is responsible for food distribution for displaced persons, is among the agencies that have pulled out. This has resulted in a food shortage for the people. The situation has compelled the District Secretary to find transport for food distribution.

It is reported that food, fuel and medicine shortages have hit the entire Wanni region with private transport operators reluctant to go to the area because of strict security procedures.