A total of 55,286 Tamil civilians have fled the fast-shrinking LTTE territory in the northern combat zone to take shelter in government-held areas since January this year, officials said today.
The latest batch to cross over from battle-scarred Wanni region yesterday comprised 1,386 people -- 413 men, 378 women, 315 boys and 330 girls, an official of the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services said.
Thousands of civilians are trapped in a strip of jungle and beach along the island's northeast coast where troops are fighting to flush out the remnants of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
The official said 55,286 civilians have crossed over to government-held areas from Wanni till now.
The Indian government has also commended the relief efforts by the Sri Lankan government for the displaced people arriving from Mullaitivu, an official release said here today.
It said Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Alok Prasad has expressed his appreciation when he called on Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva recently.
Minister de Silva thanked the High Commissioner for continuously providing services for the displaced at the 'welfare villages' set up by the Sri Lankan government.
The Sri Lankan government early this month sent 500 metric tonnes of food rations for the displaced civilians in Wanni, the biggest shipment so far, Commissioner of Essential Services S B Divarathna said.
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