On Wednesday, a total of 368 injured persons, including 98 children, were taken from Mullaitivu to Trincomalee aboard a vessel chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The injured persons have been warded at the Trincomalee General Hospital.
According to Health Ministry sources, one of the admitted persons, government teacher Velautham Sivakumar (38), succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday night. Trincomalee Magistrate T. L. A. Manaf has ordered a post-mortem, and gave instructions that the body be handed over to relatives of the deceased.
Of the 368 injured persons, 297 are civilians. Many of the 59 boys and 39 girls warded, all under 12 years of age, have suffered serious injuries, including loss of limbs. The civilian adults warded include 94 men and 105 women.
As the war in the North continues, hospitals in the district, including those in Nilaveli, Kantale, Kinniya and Mutur, have been told to be prepared to receive more injured persons coming from the Wanni, and to be ready to supply blood for urgent cases, Health Ministry sources said.
Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai.
Chandrakanthan visited the warded Mullaitivu patients and gave instructions that they be given every form of assistance they required.
The minister was accompanied by Eastern Province Minister M. L. A. M. Hisbullah, Eastern Province Governor Mohan Wijewickrema, and Government Agent Ranjit de Silva.
Tales of horror from ‘human shield’ victims
By Amadoru
Amarajeewa
Injured Mullaitivu residents warded at the Trincomalee General Hospital had tales of horror to tell as hostages of the LTTE in the ongoing battle in the North.
The residents said they were treated as human shields, while fighting raged in and around Puthukkudiyiruppu, in Mullaitivu.
LTTE cadres had fired at young Tamils who were attempting to escape the area, killing 15, according to some of the warded persons. They said the LTTE had released only those who were gravely injured, while preventing young men and women who had not joined the LTTE ranks from going into government-controlled areas. This has resulted in great resentment against the LTTE among the young residents, The Sunday Times learns.
The more than 360 Mullaitivu residents were brought to Trincomalee last Wednesday aboard the “Green Ocean”, a ship flying the flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Some of the injured persons from Puthukkudiyiruppu were forced to hide in trenches to avoid the cross-fire. They said the ICRC provided them with biscuits and water. Others said they went without food for days.
When the wounded Mullaitivu residents arrived in Trincomalee, the majority had blood-soaked bandages that had not been changed for days. Many were barely able to walk, while others were suffering from severe dehydration.
War casualties arriving by ship from the Mullaitivu war zone are being housed in temporary huts set up on the beach by the civil authorities. They are being given basic medical treatment by Navy medical teams before being sent to hospital for further treatment.
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