The civilian population in the Vanni continues to suffer as a result of government restrictions on food and medicines.
Hospitals are unable to accept patients.
In a letter to senior Army officers in mid-April, Vavuniya Health Services Director, Dr K Ilango said that malaria was spreading and drugs were urgently needed. Although the Defence Ministry had permitted 45 different kinds of medicines, ICRC s Harsha Gunawardena says that the Army allowed only 14. At a meeting on 28 April, international humanitarian agencies explained the difficult situation in the Vanni to the Health Ministry. The meeting decided to send a letter to the Defence Ministry urging action to send adequate medicines. Vavuniya Army officers say that medicines were cut because LTTE cadre injured in the fighting in Jaffna were being treated in the Vanni.