The Sri Lanka Army’s refusal to open the Omanthai checkpoint, on the main A9 route between LTTE controlled territory and Vavuniya town, is endangering the lives of the sick, LTTE officials charged.
"The SLA is adamantly against opening of the A9 land route but we continue to make efforts to have the A9 opened so that people are given the freedom to travel," LTTE Vavuniya political head, Gnanam told TamilNet after discussions with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Friday.
A large number patients in need of urgent medical treatment are being prevented from getting help due to the SLA closure of the A9, he explained.
Several lorries loaded with commodities are also stuck at the checkpoint, he said.
“We are ready to re-open the checkpoint, but we can’t do it until ICRC agrees,” military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily Mirror Friday.
“Therefore we asked ICRC to take up the matter with the Tigers as thousands of people are suffering,” he said.
The ICRC urged both the military and the LTTE to guarantee the security at the Omanthai checkpoint to facilitate free civilian movement.
“Discussions are underway with both parties on finding ways to resolve the issue which is creating a major problem,” ICRC spokesman Davide Vignati said.
On Thursday morning, the ICRC temporarily withdrew from the Omanthai entry and exit point following heavy shelling in the vicinity.
Kilinochchi hospital faced a crisis when the SLA closed the entry-exit check point at Oamanthai, as patients scheduled to be taken to Vavuniya for urgent treatment could not be transferred.
Three infants, including a one day old, are under artificial breathing, and need immediate medical attendance, hospital officials said.
Twelve children below the age 12, and six pregnant mothers have to be taken to Vavuniya for treatment not available in Kilinochchi, but cannot travel, they added.
Swaminathan Selvasothy, 35, of Navvi, Vavuniya, injured in SLA shelling Thursday and waiting for treatment, is an example of those waiting to travel for medical treatment.
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A large number patients in need of urgent medical treatment are being prevented from getting help due to the SLA closure of the A9, he explained.
Several lorries loaded with commodities are also stuck at the checkpoint, he said.
“We are ready to re-open the checkpoint, but we can’t do it until ICRC agrees,” military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily Mirror Friday.
“Therefore we asked ICRC to take up the matter with the Tigers as thousands of people are suffering,” he said.
The ICRC urged both the military and the LTTE to guarantee the security at the Omanthai checkpoint to facilitate free civilian movement.
“Discussions are underway with both parties on finding ways to resolve the issue which is creating a major problem,” ICRC spokesman Davide Vignati said.
On Thursday morning, the ICRC temporarily withdrew from the Omanthai entry and exit point following heavy shelling in the vicinity.
Kilinochchi hospital faced a crisis when the SLA closed the entry-exit check point at Oamanthai, as patients scheduled to be taken to Vavuniya for urgent treatment could not be transferred.
Three infants, including a one day old, are under artificial breathing, and need immediate medical attendance, hospital officials said.
Twelve children below the age 12, and six pregnant mothers have to be taken to Vavuniya for treatment not available in Kilinochchi, but cannot travel, they added.
Swaminathan Selvasothy, 35, of Navvi, Vavuniya, injured in SLA shelling Thursday and waiting for treatment, is an example of those waiting to travel for medical treatment.
