Hundreds killed in Sri Lanka, says ICRC
January 28th, 2009 - 3:00 pm ICT by IANSColombo, Jan 28 (IANS) Hundreds of people have been killed and scores of wounded are overwhelming understaffed and ill-equipped medical facilities in Sri Lanka’s north, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said.Jacques de Maio, the ICRC head of operations for South Asia in Geneva, said that this followed intensified fighting between security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“People are being caught in the crossfire, hospitals and ambulances have been hit by shelling and several aid workers were injured while evacuating the wounded,” he said in a statement.
“The violence is preventing the ICRC from operating in the region,” he added.
The terrified civilian population is in need of protection, medical care and basic assistance, according to the ICRC.
An estimated 250,000 people are trapped in a 250 sq-km area which has come under intense fighting. The people have no safe area to take shelter and were unable to flee, the statement said.
“When the dust settles, we may see countless victims and a terrible humanitarian situation unless civilians are protected and international humanitarian law is respected in all circumstances,” said de Maio.
“It is high time to take decisive action and stop further bloodshed because time is running out.”
The ICRC urged both sides to allow and facilitate the safe and voluntary movement of civilians out of the combat zone.
The ICRC said it was determined to stay as long as possible in the Vanni, but the parties must respect its presence and its work.
Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to enter the Vanni and aid workers and their premises must be protected from shelling and looting as required by international humanitarian law.
Hundreds of patients need emergency treatment and evacuation to the hospital at Vavuniya in the north.
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