Sri Lanka: Thousands Caught in Conflict
2 June-23 May 2009: With fighting now at an end, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a 2 June press release that its ultimate objective is to support governments’ efforts to restore normalcy in the lives of this population by ensuring that they can return home as soon as conditions are in place. In the meantime, the agency said it is working with the government of Sri Lanka to provide urgently needed aid to the hundreds of thousands who fled the conflict zone. Some 300,000 IDPs are currently accommodated in 40 emergency shelter sites.
On 27 May, the Human Rights Council concluded its eleventh Special Session adopting a resolution on Assistance to Sri Lanka in the promotion and protection of human rights.
In the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 29 in favor, 12 against, and 6 abstentions, the Council commended the measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to address the urgent needs of the internally displaced persons. It also urged the Government to continue strengthening its activities to ensure that there was no discrimination against ethnic minorities in the enjoyment of the full range of human rights.
John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who accompanied the Secretary-General on his weekend visit to a major camp for displaced persons in Sri Lanka, briefed reporters on 26 May via telephone, while B. Lynn Pasco, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, spoke at Headquarters.
An estimated 300,000 people had fled the conflict zone, according to Mr. Holmes. While in Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General had visited the Manik Farm campsite for displaced persons. He said the Secretary-General had been able to talk to people at the camp in a “very helpful way”. “He was able to see for himself that, while a lot has been done in terms of providing basic services, there’s still a long way to go in areas like shelter, and that a lot of the tents are still overcrowded. There’s a lot more land needed, a lot more tents need to go up,” he said.
Issuing a joint statement on 23 May at the conclusion of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan President and the Secretary General agreed that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic development in Sri Lanka (see Situation Report covering the period from 22 to 25 May [pdf]) .Heavy fighting over the week-end in the conflict zone has taken a heavy toll on civilians and prompted United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon to issue a strongly worded statement on May 11 in which he said he was appalled at the killing of hundreds of civilians in Sri Lanka.
In his statement, The Secretary-General says that he has repeatedly called upon the parties to the conflict to stop using heavy-calibre weaponry, including mortars, in the areas with high civilian concentrations. He says he was deeply concern by the continued use of heavy weapons in this situation. The reckless disrespect shown by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the safety of civilians has led to thousands of people remaining trapped in the area, he also added.
More stories and features on the conflict in Sri Lanka on IRIN and Reliefweb
Access key documents on OCHA Sri Lanka