LTTE deprived the malnourished children in Vanni according to UN

by sudharaka | March 12, 2009 at 08:42 pm

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United Nations has issued a statement condemning the usage of BP-100 therapeutic food, intended as a life saving item for severely malnourished children in Vanni, as combat rations by the LTTE terrorists.

According to a statement issued by the UN country office in Sri Lanka, the said BP-100 sample has indeed come from the UNICEF supplies.

The UN has deplored the diversion of high-energy therapeutic food supplies intended for severely malnourished children to Liberation Tigers of Tamils Eelam (LTTE) fighters in combat zones in Sri Lanka’s north.

A statement released on 11 March by the UN country office in Sri Lanka said that BP-100 high-energy biscuits found in the possession of a dead Tamil Tiger came from supplies targeted at severely malnourished children.

“The UN deplores that such life-saving items, destined for severely malnourished children, were diverted from their intended purpose,” the statement said.

The above statement was issued after a BP-100 biscuit packet was found among the combat rations of a slain LTTE cadre.

Troops of the 55 Division while conducting search and clearing operations in general area South of Chalai, after neutralizing an LTTE infiltration bid into the military defences Sunday(March 8), made a startling revelation of a possible flow of 'combat rations' to LTTE under the guise of 'nutrition supplements'.

According to ground sources, a high protein BP-100 biscuit packet was in the possession of a slain LTTE cadre who was killed due to military small arms fire. Troops have also uncovered a T-56 assault riffle, 03x maps and a GPS, security sources said.

Earlier in January 08, UNICEF had this to say when a truck was stopped at Madawachchiya containing therapeutic food. (known as BP-100)

“It is reported that 33 percent of children are underweight, in addition to many facets of nutritional deficiencies in our country. It is proposed to implement an integrated program under the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition… to promote nutritional standard of pregnant and lactating mothers as well as infants with the emphasis on those in the eastern, estate areas as well as other difficult areas.”

BP-100 is currently being distributed through maternal and child health clinics in Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Batticalloa, through Ministry of Health personnel every two weeks after screening children through growth monitoring sessions. According to the current plan the second phase of the programme will be extended to Ampara and Anuradapura in 2008.

A description of the BP-100 and it’s lifesaving qualities:

BP-100™ is a compressed ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) of high nutritional value developed for use in the phase 2 of treatment (rehabilitation & treatment phase) of severely malnourished children and adults.

As a solid form of F-100, BP-100™ is more likely to be appreciated in the long term by adults and adolescents than semi-liquid RUTFs. This can influence the outcome of the treatment by ensuring that severely malnourished adolescents and adults keep their appetite during the whole period.