Civilians are caught in the crossfire as fighting continues in Sri Lanka’s northeast. NRC urges the parties to establish safe passage for civilians out of the warzone.
The humanitarian situation in north-eastern Sri Lanka is extremely dire due to the military offensive and fighting between Sri Lankan troops and the rebel group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
”The civilian population is completely surrounded by the fighting as bombing and shooting continues in the area where they are”, said NRC’s Country Director in Sri Lanka, Toril Brekke.
Sri Lankan forces have cornered the LTTE in a small area in the northeast, over the last week they have also gained control over Mullaitivu town, a previous LTTE stronghold. NRC maintains that the parties to the conflict must ensure safe corridors for civilians out of the warzone.
“There is no respect for so-called safe zones and people have nowhere to flee. Both the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE must do their utmost to keep the civilian population safe by securing both safe zones and passage out of the warzone”, Brekke underscored.
The UN estimates that 250 000 civilians are trapped in the area where fighting is taking place. Only 5000 people have left the LTTE-controlled area since the end of November last year, according to the UN. Many of them are now in camps further south in the country.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they are
very concerned about the situation of the civilian population in the war-affected areas of Sri Lanka.
”Norwegian authorities should appeal to both the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE to halt hostilities until the civilian population is safe”, said NRC Secretary General, Elisabeth Rasmusson.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) currently has no access to the war zone and the affected civilian population. Rasmusson emphasised that the parties to the conflict should ensure humanitarian access in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.
In 2002 the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE agreed to a ceasefire; however, this was abandoned in 2007. Approximately 70 000 people have been killed during 25 years of conflict, while over 500 000 people still are internally displaced.
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