Shrapnel imbedded war victims

BY Mirudhula Thambiah-2016-07-05

Although seven years have passed since the end of war in 2009, State authorities have failed to calculate the number of women affected by shell bombs and are still carrying shrapnel in their bodies.

 Recently Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Vanni District Parliamentarian Sivasakthy Ananthan, in his speech in Parliament, highlighted the plight of those injured by shell bombs and have shrapnel imbedded in them. He mainly requested Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to disclose information on the number of people who are affected by shrapnel and are disabled.

Parliamentarian Ananthan, in his speech, mainly focussed on the many numbers of persons who are still carrying shrapnel imbedded in their bodies and also said that there is risk to life for some persons if the shrapnel is removed.

From children to adults, victims are suffering from acute pain, and even if they obtain medical treatment, they seem to have no relief. Parliamentarian Ananthan told Ceylon Today that most of them are financially unstable and have no money to spend for the removal of the shrapnel that is imbedded in their bodies. A few had undergone surgery in the early stages itself to remove the pieces of shrapnel, as theirs was not considered risky.

"There are many without any financial support struggling to remove the shrapnel from their bodies and most of the affected are children and women. The cost for surgery is quite expensive if the shrapnel is stuck in sensitive areas and if there is a risk to life or organs in removing them. Only the ones whose afflictions were not risky to operate on, managed to get the shrapnel removed at an affordable cost," he said.

Children
In 2014, Ceylon Today published a story highlighting that more than 1200, school going children had shrapnel imbedded in their bodies. They are not fit and healthy and are unable to carry out their educational activities like other students. It was mainly pointed out that these children fainted during school sessions in the classrooms.

Parliamentarian Ananthan said that up to date no proper action has been taken by the government to support these students and even during the former government they were completely ignored and neglected.

According to Ananthan, most of these affected women reside in the Mullaitivu District and they were caught in the crossfire during the last phase of the terrible war in the region.

As it is known, most families in Mullaitivu are women headed, and even these women have issues with shrapnel being imbedded in their bodies. Although they are carrying shrapnel in their bodies, and have health risks and issues they are compelled to work to maintain families.

Secretary to the Mullaitivu Citizen's Committee and Kepappliavu Model Village Women's Society President, Chandraleela Smith Hutson said that this issue had turned to be one of the serious social issues in the Mullaitivu District. There are women who have lost their limbs and eyes during the war, and are war survivors. They are in need of assistance and have to depend on another person to carry out their daily needs. "There are some organs in which the shrapnel pieces are stuck and the victim may face life threats if those are removed as those parts of the body are highly sensitive. There are many women in the Northern Province and especially in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi District, who have been affected. These women are mainly facing security, financial, health and livelihood problems as they are partly disabled and are also compelled to earn for their families," she said.
LTTE cadres

Chandraleela also pointed out that there is a specific number of former LTTE female cadres who have shrapnel in their bodies. They are facing major financial difficulties as they have been neglected by the authorities.

"I urge the State authorities to immediately address this issue and help these affected women financially; enabling them to manage their health and daily expenses," she said.

Kumaran Vijitha (35) Kepapilavu-Mullaitivu said, "I lost my leg during the last phases of war in February 2009 in Puthukuddiyiruppu, shell bomb attacks were taking place and I was escaping with the others who were displaced from our village. In May 2009 my son died during a shell bomb attack. My husband also died during the war and I'm struggling to maintain my family. There are shrapnel pieces in my hands and legs; I was injured during the attack in 2009."

She further added that some shrapnel pieces have been removed from her body yet the doctors have advised her to consult them and have told the rest can only be removed if the shrapnel pieces eject from the injured area naturally. "Doctors asked me to consult them only if the rest of the shrapnel stick out from the scars, however, it is painful when I involve myself in heavy manual work. Whenever it is painful I consult the doctor and get pain relieving medicines. There is a big scar on my hand and I find it very difficult to work as there are shrapnel inside the scar" she said. "I was struggling to escape with my family when we had to flee from Puthukudiyirippu, as we moved, a shell bomb fell next to us and it cut my leg into pieces and my hands were injured. I saw my son unconscious next to me, he was soaked in blood. Then I realized that he is no more," she wept.

"I worked in the garment industry, however, I couldn't work for a long period as I have shrapnel in my arms. It is very painful when I engage in manual tasks, so I gave up working. I have no livelihood sources and struggling to survive with my three daughters," she said.

Sivalingam Daisy (48) from Mulliyawalai said she was injured during the Puthumattalan attack. She had suffered injuries on her hand and she had shrapnel in her arms. "My entire family was injured during this attack, as we moved towards the safe zone we were subject to shell bomb attacks. My husband lost his leg and he is unable to sustain the family and finally I have to support them,"

"It's very difficult to financially support the family without any source of livelihood, it would be a great help if the government supports and launches special projects to assist us," she said.

Archunan Vanitha ( 32) from Kepapilavu said she was taken by the LTTE by force as a recruit when she came to see her uncle in Mullaitivu from Udappu-Puttalam. She had been serving in the landmines disposal squad of the LTTE when she lost her leg while in the field. Currently she has no relative willing to take care of her. "My uncle is not supportive he takes all the funds and assistance provided to me, for his own use. He does not care for me, because I was with the LTTE. He refuses to accept that I was taken by force. I still have shrapnel in my body which is too risky to be removed,"

Vanitha is currently supported by one of the villagers in the neighbourhood.
When questioned about the number of cases relating to shrapnel, Northern Province Health Ministry Secretary K. Thiruvakaran said, that there was no specific survey done to collect the data regarding those affected by shell bombs and are still carrying shrapnel in their bodies. "We may launch a survey to calculate the number of those affected. However, we have certain livelihood programmes and projects to support such victims," he said.

However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the relevant line minister to examine the matter as requested by Parliamentarian Ananthan.