Friday, April 10, 2009

Military launches operation to rescue trapped civilians

The Armed forces have launched the "largest humanitarian operation in the world" to free thousands of civilians trapped in the No Fire Zone, the Defence Ministry announced today. 

Sri Lanka Army 58 Division soldiers are spearheading the rescue operations as they have established their positions closest to the No Fire Zone border, West of Ampalavanpkkanai and South of Puthumathalam.

Troops have identified the best accessible routes for the civilians to come out of the No Fire Zone and established rescue points there. According to the Defence Ministry, some of these rescue points are located just 150 metres short of the LTTE built earth bund on the No Fire Zone border.

" Troops continuously keep the civilians informed about the safe routes to the cleared areas as they open up more escape routes to the civilians by removing terrorists blockades", the Defence Ministry said.

"Public address systems have been a positioned at several locations closest to the No Fire Zone to convey the information to the civilians", it added.

The Defence Ministry says the rescue mission is also supported by limited offensives by troops conducted to make room for the hostages to come out of the LTTE hold.

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