Why is the ICRC evacuating civilians out of the Vanni?
As fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continues, sick and wounded people continue to arrive at a makeshift health facility in Putumattalan, on the northern Sri Lanka coast. Because of the lack of properly functioning medical facilities in the conflict area, the ICRC has evacuated over 6,600 people – the sick and wounded and their attendants – to Trincomalee district by sea since 10 February. Upon arrival, patients are transferred to hospital for treatment. In Trincomalee Hospital, Ministry of Health staff and an ICRC medical team, consisting of a surgeon (myself), an anaesthetist and a nurse, have treated over 1,900 patients since the first sea evacuation took place. How would you describe the condition of the patients evacuated from Putumattalan? Their medical condition is often extremely serious. The Ministry of Health staff working in Putumattalan are very resourceful – given the difficult environment they have to work in, t
