Confirming details on victims from hospitals
The spread of shelling and the scale of civilian casualties increased by several magnitude on 20 January and continued on to January 21 and 22. It is feared that it is going to get worse. A humanitarian ceasefire has now become an absolutely urgent matter
All cases of deaths and injuries caused by bombing and shelling in Vanni are taken to the displaced Kilinochchi or Mullaithivu hospitals. Both districts have a Regional Director l Health Services (RDHS) under whose supervision Ihe govrn hospitals in hal dislrie uion. Many ol’hese hospilals arc presently functioning in displaced locations. Al the information provided in this report is obtained through the above mentioned hospas and in ome cases the homes of the victims are visited to obtain further details. If anyone wishes to confirm the reports of incidents noted in this report they can contact the respective Regional Director of Head Services (RDHS) by the phone number provided below
Dr Sathiamorthy (RDHS Kilinochehi) – Phone: 060 215 8086
Dr Shanmugarajah (RDHS Mullaithiv) Phonc: hl 224 215i)
Hospitals are not coping with the casualties for space, medicine and medical staff. More than 120 civilians were killed already in the month of January. Worsening the situation was a direct shelling hit on the Mullaithivu hospital functioning in the Vallipunam school complex on 22 January that killed five patients in the hospital
