* 36 civilians killed and 76 wounded in latest attack on ‘safety zone’
After relentlessly firing artillery shells and mortars into an area it unilaterally declared as ‘safety zone’ and killing and maiming scores of civilians, the Sri Lankan military has disbanded it and declared another part of LTTE controlled Vanni as ‘safety zone’.
The new ‘safety zone’ proposed by the Sri Lankan Army on February 2 is located between Chaalai and Mullaitheevu town along the coastal area.
Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of driving civilians out of the first ‘safety zone’, announced by the Sri Lankan Army on January 21, and proposed the new zone on the coast, pledging not to attack it.
However, international agencies, health officials, local organisations have repeatedly blamed the targeted attacks by the Sri Lankan military on the original ‘safety zone’ for civilians leaving the area.
In the latest attack on the original zone, on Monday February 9, three days prior to it being disbanded, thousands of civilians fled in all directions from the 'safety zone' as mortar, artillery and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) rockets hit the entire area demarcated by the Colombo government as safe civilian refuge.
At least 36 civilians were killed and 76 wounded throughout the day in Vallipunam, Chuthanthirapuram and in Maaththalan. The entire 100-houses-scheme located in Chuthanthirapuram was on fire following MBRL attack with shells that caused immediate fire, according to local sources.
Many had fled the 100-houses-scheme already and the remaining stayed inside the bunkers throughout the barrage. The settlement, initially set up for refugees from Mannaaar, is located on Udaiyaarkaddu Chuthanthirapuram Road.
Several thousand people had already fled the safety zone further into LTTE controlled areas. But, not all as most of the casualties were reported on the roads on Sunday.
6 civilians were killed and 12 wounded when they were fleeing Chuthanthirapuram and Theavipuram. 4 dead bodies of civilians were brought to Chuthanthirapuram hospital.
At least 16 civilians were killed in Maaththalan and 49 were reportedly wounded. Five members of a single family were among the victims, the reports said.
7 civilians, including 3 children, were rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries following the artillery and MBRL barrage.
3 more civilians were killed in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) attacks and 15 sustained injuries.
Several thousand people had already fled the safety zone further into LTTE controlled areas. But, not all as most of the casualties were reported on the roads on Sunday.
6 civilians were killed and 12 wounded when they were fleeing Chuthanthirapuram and Theavipuram. 4 dead bodies of civilians were brought to Chuthanthirapuram hospital.
At least 16 civilians were killed in Maaththalan and 49 were reportedly wounded. Five members of a single family were among the victims, the reports said.
7 civilians, including 3 children, were rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries following the artillery and MBRL barrage.
3 more civilians were killed in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) attacks and 15 sustained injuries.
Casualty figures from 100-houses-scheme was not known.
