Colombo, Sri Lanka: People complain that there is a shortage of essential food items in the Jaffna peninsula. They say that they are unable to purchase essential commodities including milk food for children even by paying very high price.

With the break out of the war on the 11th of last month and because of the curfew, there is no normalcy in the Jaffna peninsula. As a result, the transport facilities are crippled. These are the causes for the present sorry plight of the people of the peninsula.

Even if certain items of food are sent to Jaffna by ship, the delay in the distribution has caused great hardships to the people. Meanwhile there are reports that the essential food items dispatched by ‘Ruhunu’ ship have not been distributed to the people yet. It is said that necessary directives have not been sent for the distribution. It is complained that people stand on queues for hours and return home disappointed and empty handed. Due to the curfew, even cash transaction is limited in the North.

Tamil and Muslim parliamentarians must work together to ensure that the displaced Tamil and Muslim people are resettled and rehabilitated. It is a general opinion that there should be swift and urgent relief measures in the affected areas on humanitarian grounds.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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