Over crowding and poor sanitation have lead to the growth of infections and illnesses among Jaffna residents who have sought protection with civil authorities fearing that they are targeted by Sri Lankan military forces and paramilitaries.
More than seventy civilians have sought refuge with the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC), fearing for their lives.
They have been threatened by not only paramilitaries working with the Sri Lankan armed forces, but also by troopers in uniform themselves, they allege.
Due to the lack of basic facilities, six men, placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison, have been infected with Chickenpox.
Jaffna prison is a private house with a capacity to hold less than 100 people, but it is currently packed with more than 200 inmates.
This temporary prison arrangement is entirely inadequate as the private house is not equipped with adequate toilets and other essential facilities, say rights officials who have access to the premises.
The danger of the infection spreading fast among the inmates may spiral out of control due to the seasonal high temperature, the officials fear.
“They came seeking refuge, but death may still find them here – albeit from illness not a gun,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
Alternative arrangements have to be made to prevent such a dire situation, the SLHRC officials urged.
The SLHRC officials who spoke to the inmates in the prison individually, said that the problem needs immediate attention.
As the number of persons seeking safety with the SLHRC continues to increase at an alarming rate, health hazard at the prison raises concern, civil society advocates in Jaffna told TamilNet.
