Children, farmers gravely affected by Sri Lanka military campaign in Vanni
The continuing military campaign in Vanni is particularly taking a heavy toll on those lives depended on daily chores and venturing to learn. Farmers are fearful of working in the fields and parents want their children stay at home for fear of air attacks. And displaced children enrolled in other schools face crowded conditions.
[Sri Lankan airforce planes fly over the northern Tamil district of Kilinochchi-BBC in Pictures]
Tamil Daily Thinakural reported on Thursday July 31st of 55 schools being closed and 3,500 acres of farmland abandoned in the midst of off season paddy cultivation as the Sri Lanka military campaign has accelerated in recent weeks in Vanni.
The Thinakkural report says, due to the military campaign entire cultivation in Mullaithivu, Manthai East and Thunukkai are now halted.
In Vavanikulam 3,500 acres of paddy cultivation was halted and all crops are now destroyed, after a military campaign in the area.
[Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked Kugnchup-paranthan and the adjacent paddy fields along Paranthan - Poonakari (Pooneryn) road on Jul 8]
Farmers in hamlets such as Uyilangkulam, Alangkulam and Iyankulam face mounting losses as their paddy, grains and vegetable farms were unattended to and destroyed.
On the schools front, internally displaced persons are attending classes in crowded conditions in other schools.
One school in Mullaithivu, Thirumurikandy Hindu Vithiyalayam is accommodating children from several closed schools.
Among the schools functioning under crowded conditions in Thirumurikandy Hindu Vithiyalayam include Palinagar Maha Vithiyalayam, Paandiyan Kulam Maha Vithiyalayam, Yogapuram Maha Vithiyalayam, Aningjayan Kulam Government Tamil Mixed School, Kalvillan Government Tamil Mixed School, Vavanikulam Government Mixed School, Panangkaamam Government Mixed School, Moondro Murippu Government Mixed School and Koothi Moolai Government Mixed School.
Thirumurikandy Hindu Vithiyalayamâs enrollment numbered 429 prior to adding the additional 620 students due to displacement.
Thinakkural reports the school is struggling with insufficient drinking water, lack of sanitary facilities and a shortage of classrooms since taking in the additional 620 students.
