Emergency exit for 200,000 refugees

Military opens three new points to facilitate flow of displaced people

As the number of newly displaced people in LTTE-held areas swelled to more than 200,000, amidst a food and humanitarian crisis, the military is set to open three points for these displaced people to move into government-controlled areas.

As troops backed by air support pushed deeper into the rebel areas yesterday, the Security Forces’ Wanni Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya announced the opening of the new exit points at an emergency meeting with Government Agents of the area.

The exit points were not identified, but they were likely to be set up along the Mannar-Pooneryn road, part of which has been captured by the security forces.

The newly displaced people in the LTTE-controlled areas moving towards Kilinochchi town yesterday (15 Friday)

The Government Agents during the meeting had raised concerns about the food and other crises facing the displaced civilians and asked that more routes be opened for the displaced to enter Government-controlled areas. “We are ready to accommodate civilians who may enter Government-controlled areas. We will get the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN agencies,” military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told The Sunday Times.

Vavuniya Government Agent S. Shanmugam said preparations were being made to accommodate displaced persons in Government-controlled areas of the district. He said they had appealed to the UN agencies and ICRC for assistance to provide basic facilities to these displaced people.

According to the military spokesman, the troops were nearing the Mankulam-Mallavi Road on the western side of the A-9 Road while troops advancing along the Mannar-Pooneryn Road were reaching the Nachchikudha area.

Among the key areas which have fallen to the security forces are Kalvilan, Thunkkai, Mulankawil and Vavunikulam. Troops from the Welioya area were also advancing from the Nittikaikulam and the Nayaru lagoon, Brig. Nanayakkara said.

Meanwhile, lorry loads of civilians carrying their belongings were seen heading towards the LTTE-held Kilinochchi town area over the past few days, INGO officials said.