Tearful refugees told visiting UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena that they were being held like prisoners against their will. Vanni MP S Shanmugnathan says a n umber of women at the Poonthottam school camp have been sexually abused by the police. A woman who was raped has been admitted to the Vavuniya hospital. Pregnant women have been denied access to the hospital and one woman has died in labour. The Vavuniya hospital which has only six wards with 180 beds is currently treating over 1,500 patients a day.
Many patients have to sleep on the floor.
Sixty percent of the hospital staff were afflicted by a viral disease in early November. Reports say some doctors and nurses have not been paid wages for the last few months. Northern Province Rehabilitation Authority Chairman S Gunadheera says 100 new shelters will be built in Vavuniya for people arriving from the north. But people say they do not wish to stay in camps. Back to Sri Lanka Monitor Index page.