Red Cross Ship Sets Sail for Jaffna with Supplies
22 August 2006 (New Delhi)
A chartered Indian Ship flying the International Committee of the Red Cross flag carrying 2.5 million dollars worth of essential supplies and medicines for the besieged Jaffna Peninsula left the Colombo port Tuesday evening.
The departure of the ship was delayed by several days as loading could not be completed due to bad weather and security concerns.The ship is expected to reach the Kankesanthurai port by Friday morning.
The Sri Lankan government has given an assurance to the ICRC that no military supplies will be carried on board the ship.
Fierce fighting between government troops and the rebels in the north has resulted in the cutting off of civilian supply routes to area north of government controlled Vavunia, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies and medicines. Most telephone lines in Government held Jaffna are not working and electricity supply to many areas has been cut off. Curfews imposed by the police have made matters worse.
The crucial A9 Kandy-Jaffna road has been closed for commercial traffic since August 11, when the fighting began. This has cut the supply route into rebel held areas.
The consignment is expected to be distributed among civilians in Jaffna and the rebel held districts of Killinochchi and Mullaittivu according to Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.
The ship is carrying some 10,000 tonnes of rice, 500 tonnes of sugar, 1000 tonnes of flour, 300 tonnes of dal and a large stock of other essential commodities including canned fish, milk powder and tea.
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse late Monday evening paid an unannounced visit to the harbour and personally supervised loading work at the jetty. Sri Lanka's Navy chief,some cabinet ministers and Tamil MPs also joined him during the visit.
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