WAR VICTIMS live with shrapnel in their bodies

There are more than 410 individuals in the country living with pieces of explosives embedded in their bodies, it was revealed in Parliament.

When contacted TNA MP for Vavuniya Shivashakthu Anandan said studies had found that 113 of the individuals were school children. “We found that there are more than a 1,000 individuals in the Northern Province who are living under such condition and we have not even looked into the number of people living under such conditions in Kilinochchi, Mulaitivu and Mannar yet,” he said. The Parliamentarian went on to say that the government should intervene and provide these individuals with treatment in hospitals in the North as they did not have the necessary facilities.

The truth of these words was observed when the reporter visited the Sasthrikulam village in Vavuniya.

P. Saritha a mother of three who has returned with her family to Vavuniya said a mortar bomb explosion resulted in the loss of sight in one eye when she was displaced in Mullaitivu.

“The doctors say there are seven pieces from the bomb near my eye, in my legs and neck. They also told me the government hospitals don’t have the facilities to remove them from my body and that I would have to get the necessary surgeries from a private hospital,” she said.

The family found it hard to find a meal for the next day let alone spend at least Rs.50,000 for the surgery and additionally for medicines.

“I have no choice but to live with this carrying them in my body for as long as I can because we really can’t afford to do anything about it,” she said. Another victim, S. Kannan from Mankulam said that four of the 11 pieces from an artillery had been removed from his body. “The Vavuniya Hospital does not have the facility to remove them. I am waiting for the day this will happen. I can’t walk much at a stretch at the moment because the pieces of metal hurt me,” he said.

Recalling the incident Kannan said his family did not know to which side the artillery belonged to. “We were at home and all of a sudden this crashed through our roof. We don’t know which side it came from but we continue to live with the pain and suffering it caused,” he said.