MSF Country Director Guillermo Bertoletti says only two weeks supply of medicine are available. Madhu has not received medical supplies since August and even basic items such as vitamins for pregnant women have not been allowed by the Defence Ministry. Aid workers fear an epidemic if outbreaks of water-borne diseases and malaria are not checked. As drought continues, clean water supply and sanitation are major concerns in the Vanni. In late September ICRC's water and sanitation head John Fleming warned of a major disaster and sought urgent clearance from the Defence Ministry for chlorine to purify water and spare parts for tube wells.
Food is in short supply.
The continual movement of the population following military operations makes distribution difficult and food is not reaching many people. Ganesh says that Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts need 2,126 lorryloads of food per month, but in September only 1,355 lorries were permitted at the crossing point at Thandikulam in Vavuniya. The government claims that there are only 199,167 refugees in the Vanni and therefore sufficient food reaches the areas whereas NGOs estimate there are over 350,000 refugees. Military priorities are likely to prevail on both sides. The estimate takes into account the damage to various sectors, loss in agriculture, tourism and the cost of rehabilitation.