India dispatches doctors and medicines to war ravaged Northern SL

By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune

New Delhi, 23 May (Asiantribune.com): India Friday dispatched a team of 27 doctors and paramedics to the war ravaged northern Sri Lanka for the benefit of the devastated civilian Tamil population.

An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft took off from New Delhi for Colombo with the medical team, including a surgeon and pediatrician. The team carried about 30 tones of medicines worth over Rs. 3 crore to replenish stores at the Field Hospital run by the Indian Armed Forces in a camp for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

India has deployed a self-contained Emergency Medical Unit with Hospital in Sri Lanka since March 2009. The 110-bed facility comprises 62 members including eight doctors and paramedics. It has been operating out of Pulmoddai town on the north-eastern coast. The Hospital provides urgent medical care to civilians evacuated out of the conflict zone by the Red Cross (ICRC) in ships. The hospital has so far treated more than 3,000 war wounded and trauma patients.

In view of the greater requirement in and around Vavuniya, this hospital is being shifted to Menik Farm Area Zone 1 near Vavuniya which has a significant IDP population in need of medical care. "The Sri Lankan government requested us to shift the hospital to Vavuniya as it is closer to the main concentration of internally displaced people there," Brigadier P Sachdeva told reporters here as the aircraft was ready for takeoff.

India's relief assistance so far has included food, clothing, medicines and other essential supplies. Since November 2008, Delhi has provided 1.7 lakh family relief packs for lDPs and civilians affected by the conflict. The packs include dry rations, personal hygiene items, clothes, utensils and water purification tablets. Two consignments of medicines have been handed over to Sri Lanka.

Shelter material worth Rs. 15 crores will be dispatched to Sri Lanka shortly to provide temporary housing for IDPs. More relief assistance is in the pipeline, including demining, provision of civil infrastructure and reconstruction of houses.

Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh has approved a grant of Rs 100 crores for providing humanitarian relief assistance to civilians. Government of Tamil Nadu has also pledged Rs 25 crores. In addition, the Government of India is also working on a rehabilitation and reconstruction package for northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

-Asian Tribune -