THE LATEST HEADCOUNT who sought protection for their lives after arriving in cleared areas of PUTHUKUDIRIPPU from the PUTHUMATHALAN “No Fire Zone” in the past twenty-four hours ending Tuesday (21) noon has now risen to 49,058, updated statistics received by the Army confirmed.
58 Division troops have received 41,000 civilians whereas the troops, attached to the 55 Division accepted a total of 5863 civilians who crossed the sand bund. 53 Division troops meanwhile received twenty-eight escapees during Monday (20). Naval troops on Monday (20) in the meantime recorded the receipt of 2167 escapees who had fled on ordinary fishing craft across the seas.
Army troops, well prepared to cope with the developments screened all those who were lining up to enter cleared areas within hours and expedited their dispatch to VALLIPURAM Transit camp for IDPs.
source: Sri Lanka Army