LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                26. February 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

DISPLACEMENTS CAUSED BY "EDIBALA" - THE  OFFICIAL FIGURES
        Sri Lanka's latest military operation, 'Edibala', has caused an
        exodus of Tamil civilians who are now stranded in ill-equipped
        and over-crowded refugee camps. The following are figures of the
        displaced people obtained from the records of the Assistant
        Government Agent of Mannar.

BEFORE FEBRUARY 22nd

NO. OF         NO. OF        REFUGEE             AREA 
DISPLACED      FAMILIES      CAMP                FLEEING FROM                  

10,618         2,715         Maddu                   Mixed
1,344            313         Palampiddy              Mixed
1,845            434         Iranai Illuppaikulam    Vavuniya district
543              126         Kalmadu                 Vavuniya district
96                23         Villathikulam           Vavuniya district
275               69         Periamadu school        Nanaddan division
3,694            983         Nanaddan                Nanaddan division
1,007            297         Nanaddan                Mannar division


TOTAL PERSONS DISPLACED: 19,422
-------------------------------

ON FEBRUARY 22nd

NO. OF          NO. OF           REFUGEE                AREA 
DISPLACED       FAMILIES         CAMPFLEEING            FROM
367             99               Pallampiddy            Mixed
73              24               Maddu                  Manthai West
149             41               Maddu                  Nanaddan
49              17               Maddu                  Musali
19              05               Maddu                  Mannar

TOTAL PERSONS DISPLACED:  657
-----------------------------
GRAND TOTAL:  20,079
--------------------
        

        Due to Sri Lanka's ban on journalists to the northeast, little is
        known internationally about the worsening refugee crisis in Tamil
        areas. Men, women and children are languishing in unspeakable
        conditions. Of all Sri Lankan governments the present
        Chandrika-government has inflicted the worst suffering on the
        Tamil population ever, subjecting hundreds of thousands to
        homelessness, insecurity and debilitating illnesses through a
        rigorously-enforced medical embargo.
        
        While this has not escaped the attention of international relief
        agencies, it remains an open secret that many of them fear Sri
        Lanka would evict them from the war-zone if they were to
        criticise openly the government's policy of blocking adequate
        relief to those displaced. The government manipulates this
        fear-syndrome to its fullest.
        
        Meanwhile, as tens of thousands of refugees languish in
        over-crowded camps with no end in sight, it remains unlikely that
        Sri Lanka's press will highlight these statistics, preferring to
        keep hidden the plight of Tamils from the world community.

RASHES SPREAD IN VANNI
        The Tamil Vanni region has recorded a dramatic rise in the cases
        of serious rashes among the population. This affliction now takes
        its place among the many other diseases that are spreading
        uncontrollably in the region, like malaria and septicaemia. Sri
        Lanka has for many years stopped medicines reaching the Vanni. It
        wants to intensify Tamil people's desperation there in the hope
        that their will-power to resist military occupation would
        eventually dwindle.

PATIENTS HAVING TO SLEEP ON FLOOR
        Another hospital in the Vanni is facing a severe shortage of
        staff and is unable to cope with the hordes of Tamil patients
        seeking treatment. Mulankavil hospital has only one qualified
        doctor to treat thousands of patients. There are no night-time
        staff. Only nine hospital beds have been provided and many
        patients with serious conditions are having to sleep on the
        floor. It is the Sri Lankan government's duty to provide these
        hospitals with proper facilities but the supply of drugs and
        equipment has now completely dried up.
        
Political Committee,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(English translation of the LTTE statement released by
LTTE International Secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU,
United Kingdom. Tel:0181- 503 4294 / Fax: 0181-470 8593)