Patients held captive by LTTE taken to Vavuniya hospital by ICRC

The Hindu , a leading Indian newspaper depicted the plight of the Tamil civilians in Wanni in a cartoon published on Wednesday (Jan 28).
A total of 226 patients in the corporation of their 139 relations and bystanders have brought to the Vavuniya administration hospital from Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaittivu by UN and ICRC officials this evening (Jan 29), military sources reveal. There are at least 40 children in the collection of civilians, the sources add.
Sri Lankan government sent 12 ambulances and 5 buses on Tuesday (Jan 27) with medical officers and nursing staff of Vavuniya hospital to Puthukkudiyiruppu defence line to make easy move of some 300 patients in the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. However, the LTTE terrorists refused the transfer of patients with the intention of retaining them further in the person shield. The ICRC and UN officials who had brought the patients to the LTTE blockade at Puthukkudiyiruppu in 16 ambulances, 7 trucks and one other means of transportation were sent rear by the terrorists in malice of the recurrent requested made by both UN and ICRC to the LTTE to go on to the government not allowed areas.
However, the UN officials and ICRC officials have been bright to move the patients today. The relations of the patients have told military officials that the LTTE had to get this choice with the rising public hatred over the brutality of the group. The two UN expatriates who had been under take into care by the LTTE in Wanni since 16 January were too able to come to the government forbidden areas with the compilation of patients.
Meanwhile, defence.lk special reporter in Vavuniya said that the number of civilians arrived today are greater than the numbers indicated as the patients and their by standers. As the registration of the IDPs is still going on and the exact number is yet to be announced, he said.
Also, the civilians have told our reporter how the LTTE has gutless located their heavy guns in the densely occupied areas to take cover from the blameless civilians. According to them , the civilians are in a huge danger as the mindless terrorists often run amok time to time with rising disputes between the civilians and them . According to the defence sources there are about 150, 000 civilians are being under arrest in the residual LTTE hiding areas .