Sri Lanka: Thousands Caught in Conflict
10 February 2009: The death-toll among civilians is rising as Sri Lanka’s north is spiraling into widespread chaos and violence, resulting in massive displacement of population. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on 10 February that it is preparing, along with its partners, to meet the immediate needs of up to 150,000 civilians fleeing the conflict zone into government-controlled areas. So far, more than 13,000 people have been displaced from conflict areas. UNHCR said it has received reports of another 5,000 people on the move who are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours to reach the District of Vavuniya, which is the hub for emergency assistance in the north.
A suicide attack on 9 February near a site for internally displaced people killed 30 people and injured scores of other civilians, including children, prompting international outrage. “The UN deplores the attack that killed and endangered the lives of innocent civilians, especially those fleeing the fighting, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka told IRIN.
Expressing their concern at the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation, ten United Nations human rights experts deplored “the restrictions on humanitarian access to conflict areas which exacerbate the ongoing serious violations of the most basic economic and social rights
On 3 January the number of civilian casualties was mounting in the northern part of the country where government troops were closing on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports the UN Humanitarian Coordinator’s spokesman in Sri Lanka Gordon Weiss. At least 52 people were killed when the northern district of Mullaitivu came under 16 hours of heavy shelling on 3 February, he told IRIN. “We don’t know who is responsible or how many shells hit”, Mr. Weiss added. He also said that hundreds of patients had been evacuated today from the only functioning hospital in the district that had come under attack the day before, resulting in the killing of 11 people.
Safe passage for civilians trapped in the area of intense fighting in the north of the country to a secure environment has been announced on 30 January by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon urged the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to do all in their power to make this safe passage a reality. He also urged them to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.
On January 29,The Office of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka attempted, for the second time in three days, to help evacuate hundreds of critically wounded civilians from the war-torn north of the country. Those to be evacuated include at least 50 seriously injured children. The evacuation convoy has been trapped for days in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, which lies just across the lines of confrontation in. If agreement is obtained from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to allow the evacuation, and if a lull in fighting permits, the convoy will cross the frontline at midday Thursday. The injured will then be transported to hospitals in the town of Vavuniya.
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