Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=24414
Health disaster among displaced
By Jamila Najmuddin
More than 75% of the Internally Displaced People in the Vanni are likely to be victims of a serious health disaster in the coming weeks as they continue to live under trees, a health chief in the district warned yesterday.
Killinochchi District Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. T. Sathiamoorthy in a telephone interview yesterday said, temporary shelters were available for only 25% of the IDPs and the rest had to find shelter of their own due to the lack of tents.
He warned that if IDPs were not provided immediate shelter, a huge tragedy which involved children and infants could result.
?Even if the UN and NGOs begin setting up temporary shelters, only 25% of the displaced can be accommodated. There is a serious shortage in Killinochchi. This is why the displaced are now living under trees.
The only protection they have above their heads is pieces of cloth which they have spread across the branches? Dr. Sathiamoorthy said.
Warnings of a massive dengue and dysentery outbreak have been issued to humanitarian workers arriving in Killinochchi with relief supplies, as more IDPs admit their children to the Killinochchi Hospital on a daily basis.
As a result of rainy conditions and lack of proper sanitation facilities, IDPs are forced to survive in unhygienic conditions which have led to many displaced children suffering from infections and fever.
?The NGO?s are trying their best to accommodate as many IDPs as possible in a hygienic environment. Despite drug shortages, the Killincochi Hospital too has accommodated a maximum number of patients. However, the IDPs need much more attention and help? Dr. Sathiamoorthy said.
The failure to provide electricity to many areas in Killinochchi has severely hampered the health sector as the ICU and the operating theatre at the Killinochchi Hospital remain closed.
Fuel shortages have made transportation of critically ill patients from Killinochchi to Vavuniya impossible. This has led to many serious patients remaining at the Killinochchi Hospital without medical attention.
According to Dr. Sathiamoorthy, more than 15,000 IDP?s in Kilinochchi were suffering from psychological problems due to the fear of the war.
While some IDPs were already receiving counselling daily, Dr. Sathiamoorthy said urgent psychiatric treatment was required to meet the needs of the IDPs.
Meanwhile according to WHO, the supply of drugs, supplementary foods and fuel to communities in LTTE-controlled areas remains difficult due to the situation in the northern Vanni district being tense following the intense clashes between the military and the LTTE.
?Small-scale dengue and dysentery outbreaks have been reported from Ampara, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa and Jaffna but inaccessibility and lack of human resources have caused much under-reporting,? the WHO said.
Health disaster among displaced
By Jamila Najmuddin
More than 75% of the Internally Displaced People in the Vanni are likely to be victims of a serious health disaster in the coming weeks as they continue to live under trees, a health chief in the district warned yesterday.
Killinochchi District Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. T. Sathiamoorthy in a telephone interview yesterday said, temporary shelters were available for only 25% of the IDPs and the rest had to find shelter of their own due to the lack of tents.
He warned that if IDPs were not provided immediate shelter, a huge tragedy which involved children and infants could result.
?Even if the UN and NGOs begin setting up temporary shelters, only 25% of the displaced can be accommodated. There is a serious shortage in Killinochchi. This is why the displaced are now living under trees.
The only protection they have above their heads is pieces of cloth which they have spread across the branches? Dr. Sathiamoorthy said.
Warnings of a massive dengue and dysentery outbreak have been issued to humanitarian workers arriving in Killinochchi with relief supplies, as more IDPs admit their children to the Killinochchi Hospital on a daily basis.
As a result of rainy conditions and lack of proper sanitation facilities, IDPs are forced to survive in unhygienic conditions which have led to many displaced children suffering from infections and fever.
?The NGO?s are trying their best to accommodate as many IDPs as possible in a hygienic environment. Despite drug shortages, the Killincochi Hospital too has accommodated a maximum number of patients. However, the IDPs need much more attention and help? Dr. Sathiamoorthy said.
The failure to provide electricity to many areas in Killinochchi has severely hampered the health sector as the ICU and the operating theatre at the Killinochchi Hospital remain closed.
Fuel shortages have made transportation of critically ill patients from Killinochchi to Vavuniya impossible. This has led to many serious patients remaining at the Killinochchi Hospital without medical attention.
According to Dr. Sathiamoorthy, more than 15,000 IDP?s in Kilinochchi were suffering from psychological problems due to the fear of the war.
While some IDPs were already receiving counselling daily, Dr. Sathiamoorthy said urgent psychiatric treatment was required to meet the needs of the IDPs.
Meanwhile according to WHO, the supply of drugs, supplementary foods and fuel to communities in LTTE-controlled areas remains difficult due to the situation in the northern Vanni district being tense following the intense clashes between the military and the LTTE.
?Small-scale dengue and dysentery outbreaks have been reported from Ampara, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa and Jaffna but inaccessibility and lack of human resources have caused much under-reporting,? the WHO said.