Health Ministry instructs regional officials to move healthcare activities to No Fire Zone

(February 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Secretary of Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition has informed all heads of Diplomatic Missions and ICRC in Sri Lanka that he has instructed Regional Directors of Health in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi to take their healthcare activities for the civilians in their areas to the Designated No Fire Zone in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi with the assistance of ICRC in order to avoid causing loss of life or injury to the civilians in Puddikkudiyiruppu, Vallipuram, Udayarkadu and Sudandiripuram hospitals.

This followed a request for the advice from the Secretary by the two Regional Directors of Health of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi as a result of the mounting hostilities and the risk of falling artillery shells in and around these hospitals as a result of fighting during the humanitarian relief operations in those areas and specifically in view of the reliable information received that the LTTE were mingling with the civilians while having active LTTE artillery gun positions operating in and around the hospitals, posing a serious threat to the patients, hospital staff and their relatives who are temporarily housed within the hospital premises for safety.

The notice issued by the Secretary of Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition to ICRC:

Head of Mission
ICRC- Sri Lanka

During the past week, Dr. Vartharaja (Regional Director of Health services/ Mullaitivu) and Dr. Sathyamoorthy (Regional Director of Health Services/ Kilinochchi) contacted me to seek advice as to what they should do with regard to the functioning of hospitals at Puddikkudiyiruppu, Vallipuram, Udayarkadu and Sudandiripuram.

In view of the mounting hostilities and the risk of falling artillery shells in and around these hospitals as a result of fighting during the humanitarian relief operations in those areas. I advised them to move out of the areas where fighting was taking place into the Designated No Fire Security Zone or the liberated areas of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi with the assistance of ICRC in order to avoid causing loss of life or injury to the civilians in those hospitals. This advice was given specifically in view of the reliable information I had received that the LTTE were mingling with the civilians while having active LTTE artillery gun positions operating in and around the hospitals, posing the serious threat to the patients, hospital staff and their relatives who are temporarily housed within the hospital premises for safety.

It has also been brought to the notice of this Ministry that the artillery fire of the LTTE and also the counter fire can cause injury to civilians in the process.

Both Dr. Vartharaja (RDHS- Mullaitivu) and Dr. Sathyamoorthy (RDHS- Kilinochchi) expressed that though they were willing to move out of their hospitals into the Fire Free Security Zone, they were not allowed by the LTTE to do so. It was very clear that the LTTE has forced a compulsion on them restricting their free movement out of the areas under their (LTTE) control. They further said that they were not in a position to forcibly move out of these areas themselves, due to fear of the worst.

The Regional Directors of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi wanted the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition to urgently intervene and request the ICRC to move in the matterand persuade the LTTE to remove the restriction and free the patients and civilians along with the Medical staff to move into areas.

Therefore in order to restore the rights of the patients and civilians and also to avoid a crisis that may arise in those areas I earnestly request you to use your good office and intervene to persuade the LTTE to allow these patients and civilians along with the Medical Staff to move into the Fire Free Security Zone or Vaviniya and Kilinochchi hospitals to avoid any threat or harm to their lives that can otherwise be caused due to the unconventional actions taken by the LTTE, violating the rights of the civilians and patients.

I anticipate an early and positive response from you.

Dr. H. A. P. Kahandaliyanage
Secretary - Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition -Sri Lanka Guardian