Local groups in Mannar and Tamil donors in Canada have helped provide relief packages to support families across Mullaitivu, that continue to struggle with the military-enforced curfews. The assistance was given this week in response to the hundreds of families that have not been able to access essential goods, including food, as a result of curfew restrictions.
Local aid
The Institute for Environment and Social Development and the Mannar Institute for Social and Economic Development helped provide temporary relief packages to the people across towns in Mullaitivu.
The packages included dry food items, medication and sanitary products.
60 families from the towns across the Mullaitivu district received packages containing essential items and around 100 women were given sanitary pads. The packages were delivered to the towns of Kokku Thoduvai, Kokkilai and Karunatukeni under the supervision and organisation of the Karaithuraipattu Grama Niladhari in Mullaitivu.
Overseas aid
The Canada-based Tamil charity organisation SMART World Foundation has made efforts to provide assistance to families in Mullaitivu left with limited food supplies due to the lockdown. Earlier this week, they provided dry food ration packs to 120 families.
The packages contained medications and sanitary products such as soaps. There was also essential food items included in the package such as rice, flour, sugar, salt, garlic and tea.
With villages being more heavily affected by the curfew due to the majority of villagers living on low incomes, 25 families in the village of Karippattamurippu in Mullaitivu were provided with relief packages. Packages were also provided to other areas such as Inthapuram, Kovil Kudiyiruppu, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Kombavil.
Despite relaxing the curfew briefly, many villagers and locals across the North-East have still struggled to get access to healthcare and food supplies. As the government continues to neglect many of these Tamils, local organisations and volunteers along with diaspora Tamil donors and organisers, have and continue to aid the Tamil community across the North-East.
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