ID :
52641
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 14:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52641
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190,000 civilians trapped in Lanka fighting: UN official
Dharam Shourie
United Nations, Mar 27 (PTI) The condition of over
190,000 civilians trapped by fighting in northern Sri Lanka
between government forces and the LTTE is "extremely
worrying," a top UN official has said, appealing to the rebels
to free them in a "safe and orderly fashion".
Addressing reporters after an interactive Security
Council discussion on Sri Lanka yesterday, Under Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes said forced
recruitment continues within the combat zone, and the LTTE is
not allowing civilians out of the area.
UN estimates that the conflict zone shrank from 300
square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February,
with many civilians – Holmes put the number between 150,000
and 190,000 – sheltering in a 14-square kilometre "no-fire"
zone in the Vanni region.
"Our first appeal is to the LTTE to let the civilians out
in a safe and orderly fashion," Holmes said.
He also called on the Government to do all they can to
avert civilian casualties and not to use heavy weapons in the
area.
The official said he also reiterated during the
discussions a call for a "humanitarian pause" in fighting to
allow much-needed relief in and to allow people to leave.
Those uprooted by fighting trapped in the no-fire zone
have limited access to food, safe water, sanitation facilities
and medical assistance.
Since January, over 40,000 internally displaced persons
(IDPs) have escaped the conflict zone into makeshift camps,
located mostly in Vavuniya, as well as Mannar and Jaffna, and
nearly 4,000 shelters have been constructed at various IDP
sites in Vavuniya District, where the UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) is setting up a temporary medical facility.
"We have a separate set of concerns over the situation in
the camps and transit centres," Holmes said today, calling for
conditions in these sites to meet international standards.
Following a visit to Sri Lanka, he told the Security
Council last month that movement into and out of these camps
is "currently highly and unacceptably restricted".
United Nations, Mar 27 (PTI) The condition of over
190,000 civilians trapped by fighting in northern Sri Lanka
between government forces and the LTTE is "extremely
worrying," a top UN official has said, appealing to the rebels
to free them in a "safe and orderly fashion".
Addressing reporters after an interactive Security
Council discussion on Sri Lanka yesterday, Under Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes said forced
recruitment continues within the combat zone, and the LTTE is
not allowing civilians out of the area.
UN estimates that the conflict zone shrank from 300
square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February,
with many civilians – Holmes put the number between 150,000
and 190,000 – sheltering in a 14-square kilometre "no-fire"
zone in the Vanni region.
"Our first appeal is to the LTTE to let the civilians out
in a safe and orderly fashion," Holmes said.
He also called on the Government to do all they can to
avert civilian casualties and not to use heavy weapons in the
area.
The official said he also reiterated during the
discussions a call for a "humanitarian pause" in fighting to
allow much-needed relief in and to allow people to leave.
Those uprooted by fighting trapped in the no-fire zone
have limited access to food, safe water, sanitation facilities
and medical assistance.
Since January, over 40,000 internally displaced persons
(IDPs) have escaped the conflict zone into makeshift camps,
located mostly in Vavuniya, as well as Mannar and Jaffna, and
nearly 4,000 shelters have been constructed at various IDP
sites in Vavuniya District, where the UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) is setting up a temporary medical facility.
"We have a separate set of concerns over the situation in
the camps and transit centres," Holmes said today, calling for
conditions in these sites to meet international standards.
Following a visit to Sri Lanka, he told the Security
Council last month that movement into and out of these camps
is "currently highly and unacceptably restricted".
