Personal data
Name
Mary Anjaleena Edward Anton
Date of birth
06.03.1951
Age
58
Place of birth
Navatkuli,Jaffna / Thevipuram Killinochchi
Biographical details
Spouse of ICRC Staff During the height of the war in the north of Sri Lanka, its staff distributed essential items such as medicines, medical equipment and food items to displaced people through the Red Cross.
Indcident
Date
06.02.2009
Location
Vallipunam
Description
Indiscriminate shelling on the ’safe zone’ by Srilankan forces.
On the 20th January 2009, the government announced that it had created a no fire zone for the civilians. It was said to be a conflict-free territory, however, it consisted only of a small piece of land measuring 30 to 35 square kilometres from Udayarkad to Devipuram. How were three hundred thousand people to live within such a small area? Many who were fleeing to the above-mentioned area were killed in the bombings along the way.
In addition, many more were killed when the Sri Lankan army dropped cluster bombs and shells, banned by the world community, in the no fire zone.
People living in the area spent months living in bunkers. Due to the lack of space, 40 civilians were each forced into two 8-person capacity bunkers, resulting in lack of oxygen and other amenities. The worst medical facilities were found in these areas. There was not enough clothing, medical equipment and medicine to bandage the wounds, so many of the injured children had to have their limbs amputated. Preserving donated blood and storing oxygen became impossible with the decline in number of fridges and tanks. . In September 2008, the Sri Lankan government ordered all humanitarian and UN agencies to leave the Vanni area. As a result, tens of thousands of people lost their possessions, lost their faith and were killed without any outside contact.
Legal situation (investigation/criminal proceedings)
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