Situation Report-Jaffna Peninsula
25^th September 2006

• Eight persons were arrested and produced before the Mallagam Magistrate on a charge of burglary of the Kantherodai branch of the Chummakam MPCS.
• An ambulance costing Rs.5.2 million has been donated by UNICEF to the Chavakadcheri hospital.
• The provision of drinking water by bowsers in the tsunami affected areas had been affected due to the shortage of diesel.  The allocated quota is insuggicient.
• People permanently resident in Mandaitivu have been allowed to cut firewood and take it outside for sale.
• 12 youth arrested by the security forces from the welfare centres of St.Patrick’s College and St.Charles MV on the 22^nd Sep. were produced before the magistrate and released on bail.
• There was small fighting between the security forces and the LTTE in Eluthumadduval and Muhamalai areas on the 24^th September.

FOOD, NON-FOOD ITEMS  

• Price of rice has risen to LKR135. per kilo and coconut oil is LKR245./Litter in the market
• Fish caught in Analaitivu is sold at LKR140 per kilo.  The seafood from Analaitivu is not allowed to be taken out of the Island for sale as it will deprive the local residents.
• The Govt.Agent (GA) has informed that 600 MT of flour will be released to private sector for sale.  The Jaffna Trade Chamber has been entrusted with equitable distribution to the public through private traders.
• The GA has instructed the MPCS branches to avoid the issue of flour not suitable for human consumption.  His instruction has been given as the public have been complaining about the quality supplied from some branches.

TRAVEL & VEHICLES

• Nine patients requiring further treatment were sent by air force plane to Colombo.  This arrangement was made by the security forces commander at the request of the Director of the Teaching Hospital.
• A ship from Trinco is scheduled to leave for Jaffna today with 1000 passengers who were stranded in Vavuniya from the 11^th August 2006 when the fighting broke-out.
• Three boats and 52 persons travelling from Mannar to Delft were arrested and produced before the Kayts Magistrate.  These people who were stranded in Vavuniya from the 11^th of August had gone to Mannar and arranged the boats to go to Delft.  The Magistrate remanded the boatmen and discharged the passengers.

EDUCATION

• Boycott of schools in the peninsula is continuing.
• The security forces high command in Jaffna have requested the parents to send their children to school as the situation in the peninsula has returned to normal
• The Students’ Union on the Jaffna has stated that the boycott of classes by the students would continue until the situation in the peninsula resumes normalcy.

DISPLACEMENT

• Displaced life is still continuing in some areas.

MISSING PERSONS & INJURIES

• S.Mahinson (13) of Urumpirai was injured in a land mine explosion when he went to pluck coconuts.
• Johnpillai Arulthas (30)  and Christopher Anton Francis (36) of Mandaitivu have been reported missing from the 11^th of August after they set out for fishing.
• Rajenthran Pathmanathan (21) and his brother Sureshkumar (18) and Tharmakulasingam Nishanthan (21) have been reported missing after they went out to play cricket in Kopay on the 23^rd of September.

CURFEW LIFTED HOURS:

• Curfew has been lifted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Valigamam, Island, Thenmaradchy and Vadamaradchy divisions.

HUDEC-Cartias Jaffna
25^th September 2006