Visitors say it is not uncommon to find children with signs of malnutrition. The camps, assisted by international refugee agency UNHCR, receive only half their food requirements from the government. The dry rations supplied contain only rice, flour, sugar and lentils and other needs must be purchased from the black market which refugees cannot afford without income.
Colombo newspaper Sunday Times says that at least six deaths are reported every month at Madhu hospital as a result of malnutrition and lack of medicines. Malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid in the camps cannot be controlled because of insanitary conditions and lack of water.
Lack of blood test facilities in hospitals is making diagnosis difficult and the shortage of medical staff has added to the problems. Sixteen doctors at the Mannar hospital, returned to Colombo in early October after they received death threats. The LTTE has denied involvement.
In two attacks on Murunkan police station in mid-October the Tigers killed 12 soldiers. The Army says 12 LTTE were killed in the assaults. Four soldiers died and 14 injured in a clash at Sinnakadu on 12 October.
UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena has in an October letter to Mr Ratwatte demanded an enquiry into the Army killing of refugees S Balachandran and Anthony Sebastian at Kalimoddai on 16 August. Mr Jayawardena says S Arunagirinathan, M Parameswaran and J Roach arrested at Manalmoddai by Army’s Maj. H Perera on 26 July have disappeared.
Further south at Kalpitty in Puttalam District seven people were arrested by the Navy on 20 October accused of smuggling fuel for the LTTE.