Humanitarian concern, casualty of war

OCHA map of humanitarian access, as of 28 January 2009

In the fast shrinking LTTE-controlled area in the Vanni, over 250,000 men, women and children are being encircled by increasingly proximal crossfire between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lankas conflict-afflicted north has reached stupendous proportions, putting aid agencies at odds with both fighting parties. The Sri Lankan government claims the numbers are lower and says that it maintains a strict policy not to fire at civilians. Conversely, in the LTTEs view, civilians prefer to remain in zones under their 'protection.' The scarcity of reportage emanating from the Vanni has further exacerbated the lack of avenues to deliver relief. In this web exclusive, Himal Southasian puts together accounts from the ground, albeit few and far between, to get a more comprehensive insight into the current humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.

Pressure mounts for humanitarian truce
By Jehan Perera
 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's pronouncement of a 48 hour period of safe passage to the trapped civilians of the north elapsed without any major movement of people. Only a few hundred seem to have made, or been able to make, use of this opportunity. The rest either did not feel able to, or were prevented from leaving by the LTTE. Several humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies, working in the conflict zones issued a statement in the grave humanitarian crisis. They have said that "The LTTE continues to prevent civilians from leaving areas under its control, denying the right to seek safety in other parts of the country…We call upon the LTTE to allow full freedom of movement to all civilians, and to allow safe passage for those wishing to leave the conflict area."