Surgeries stop at Sri Lanka's war zone hospital

[Christa]

Mar 15th, 2009 | COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- All surgeries have stopped at a makeshift hospital in Sri Lanka's war zone because of a lack of basic supplies such as anesthetic and blood bags, the top government health official there said Sunday.

Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah said the situation was so bad that bed sheets were being used for bandages, while sticks were being used to brace fractured limbs.

"We don't have bandages or gauze, we tear up bed sheets to bind the wounds and use palm sticks to support fractures. We are in need of a quick supply," Varatharajah said.

Four civilians died in the hospital Saturday from injuries, while 48 others were awaiting treatment, he said.

Varatharajah said he sent a report to the government pleading for supplies.

The fate of tens of thousands of civilians caught in the war zone has become a matter of international concern. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights said Friday that she believed 2,800 have died since Jan. 20, a number the government says is unsubstantiated and based on figures given by the Tamil rebels.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/world/2009/03/15/D96UFAC80_as_sri_lanka_civil_war/index.html