Eyewitness reports horrific experiences at makeshift hospital – Mr Theyva, a local humanitarian worker in War Zone
1st April 2009
Humanitarian worker Theivendran (Theyva) at Puthumaaththa’lan makeshift hospitalVoice: Eyewitness account by Theyva (1/2)
Humanitarian worker Theivendran (Theyva) at Puthumaaththa’lan makeshift hospitalVoice: Eyewitness account by Theyva (2/2)
Further excerpts from Theyvendran’s eyewitness account
“We have been receiving many injured expectant mothers. The other day, we had a case of an expectant mother whose 7-month foetus was killed in the womb due to shrapnel injuries.”
“This is the first time I am seeing this kind of situation where a baby is not only killed inside the womb, but the unborn child’s head is also blown apart. I am not sure if the mother survived or not.”
“It was gruesome. I felt like going somewhere alone and crying out loud.”
“The injuries to children are horrific.”
“We had a 6-month-old child, whose foot was split open between the toes. These kinds of injuries are common and we get horrific cases each day.”
“A 14-year-old girl from Valaignarmadam was brought in with deep shell shrapnel wounds to her chest and stomach. Blood was urgently needed. The injured girl’s mother, who was taking care of her two younger children, was in an extremely weak condition. The mother hadn’t eaten for 3 days, and in addition, she was having blood loss due to menstruation. Hence, she was not in a position to give blood.”
“The child died soon after.”
“Yesterday [March 31st], there were about 120 casualties brought to the hospital. Many among the injured had lost their arms or legs or both, and hadn’t eaten a meal for about 2 days or 3 days.”
“When we ask them, ‘did you get to eat anything at least this morning?’ most of them reply ‘we just had plain tea’.”
“I am unable to describe this, but these weak and hollowed eyed people seem to be a state of shock and grief.”
Traumatised children at the hospital where parents are treated“The other day, a young mother came in search of infant milk powder for her baby. When I suggested breast-feeding, she said that she hadn’t had enough food to eat and the milk supply has been impacted due to this. The baby was constantly crying, and was emaciated and malnourished. Most of the babies I am seeing now seem to lack adequate development and are suffering from malnourishment.”
“A few days ago, we had 3 tractor loads full of injured people. Since most of the injuries were very serious, initially I was helping out people whose lives could be saved. There was a man whose eyeball was hanging out. Nevertheless, since it was only an eye injury, I was rushing him in, when a shell landed and exploded in the hospital premises. Both he and I fell to the ground.”
“This is the kind of environment we are working in.”
“When we receive the wounded, they are just put on the ground outside.”
“At times we don’t even have mats, sheets or clothing to spread under them. We are unable to attend to all injuries so those who had lost their arms, legs or both, just die due to bleeding.”
“We do our rounds quickly and often you hear words like ‘Is that person dead? Okay, let’s lift him and move him out’, ‘bring the other person into this space’. This is kind of environment that we work in.”
“We can’t even afford 5 minutes of rest since the injured and the dying are brought in tractor loads.”
“What’s happening here is something that has not happened anywhere in the world. How can the outside world keep on watching these things? Do they want the Tamil people to perish completely?”