John Holmes of UN reiterates concern for trapped Sri Lankan civilians
Civilians continue to flee fighting in the north of Sri Lanka
The top United Nations relief official today repeated the world body’s concerns over the safety of civilians – numbering as high as 190,000 – trapped by fighting in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Addressing reporters after an interactive Security Council discussion on Sri Lanka, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, characterized the situation as “extremely worrying.”
Forced recruitment continues within the combat zone, and the LTTE is not allowing civilians out of the area, he said.
According to the UN, the conflict zone shrank from 300 square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February, with many civilians – Mr. Holmes today 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,” Mr. Holmes said.
He also called on the Government to do all they can to avert civilian casualties and to not use heavy weapons in the area.
The official said he also reiterated a call for a “humanitarian pause” in fighting to allow much-needed relief in and to allow people to leave.
Those uprooted by fighting who are trapped in the no-fire zone have limited access to food, safe water, sanitation facilities and medical assistance, with the International Red Cross delivering a two-week supply of medicines aboard a ship to the zone and the World Food Programme (WFP) preparing to send 1,000 tons of food to the area by the end of the week.
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,” Mr. 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.”
15 Comments
Sir, These civilians are not 'trapped'..if the fighting stpped, they will no longer be 'trapped'.
The only reason I oppose the civilians being moved is the plan is to put them in detention, with no livelihood. Why support such a move. Stop the war, and have people go back to their original places.
The Srilankan army says that but for the presence of the civilians, they would have wiped out the Tigers by now.Pudhukudiyiruppu town, as per their reports is not populated. Why they have taken so long to 'liberate' it? Instead of doing so first, why they are firing artelleries at the 'safe zone' declared by themselves, and killing 50-60 civilians on an average per day?
And it is Srilanka which has started the war and just because it wants to hunt down the Tigers, are the ciilians expected to vacate all the towns and villages in which they live and take refugee in the camps to which the army herds them? That too after separating men and women and without any access to outside world?
Which part of the world such things happen or suggested? Just because the Indian army is fighting the LeT, will it ask the population of Kupwara or some other town to vacate?
The truth is that the Srilankan army or government does not distinguish between Tigers and civilians. It does not really care as long as the casuality are Tamils. In fact this ruthless Srilankan leadership does not appear to even care about the reportedly 20,000 army soldiers died because of the current war and bluffing its own citizens about the correct figure.
Why keep repeating the false propaganda of the Srilankan government that Tigers are not releasing the civilians? Tigers have clearly said that they welcome international monitors or aid agencies to go there and verify. They have further said that they will not prevent any civilian willing to move to the government controlled areas. But how can you force civilians unwilling to get into the army's hands?
It is the government which is not allowing Press or international aid agencies to go and verify the truth. Which clearly shows that they have things to hide.
"concerns" has no meaning anymore in a moral world.
John Holmes: “Our first appeal is to the LTTE to let the civilians out in a safe and orderly fashion,”
IF John Holmes's concern for trapped Tamil civilians was genuine, if he was truly worried (“extremely worrying”):
Then, the FIRST appeal would be for a complete cease-fire.
Secondly for a stong presence of international monitors in the Vanni
Thirdly for an end to the NAZI style detention camp policy
But I guess John Holmes knows on which side his bread is buttered!
Surely such people are even more evil than those who physically do evil!
The civilians are trapped between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. I wonder how they can choose whether they remain with the LTTE or cross over to the SL Army and face an uncertain fate. Most probably the will stay put which is the easiest option. Having experienced bombings and shellings by the SL armed forces they are likely to select this option due the deep distrust they have of the SL forces.
The only option is for the GOSL to involve International observers from UN, US, UK, India and announce a ceasefire and amnesty allowing the LTTE to surrender. This is the only way to avoid civilian casualties.
The LTTE prevented tamils in vanni and Jafnna, part of the eastern province from voting there by electing Mr Rajapakse. LTTE asked for it and get it now.
if you have any moral value, this child would have saved his legs
you need to resign if justice prevail in the world.
SL governmet is continuing the most gruesome act owning to your assessment.
The Sri Lankan Government have been incredibly successful at propaganda
John Holmes had a great opportunity to call a spade a spade in his last visit here recently. HR violations in the Wanni and the strangle-hold the army had on the Govt and its President was clear to him.This is the reason the crisis still continues because some are using it to come to make their political entry at the top.
But he chose to play safe and issued what he probably felt was a safe statement. One more rowdy demonstration by Weeravansa's animals with the JHU priests, with their yellow robes tucked up, would have finished Holmes's UN career.
So he chose the safer option. His last visit was met with a nasty demonstratio a very hostile Sinhala media orchestrated by the Buddhist Sinhala extremists putting Weerawansa, their favourite attack dog, in front. Mahinda's clique used Holmes's Certificate to the hilt. I am afraid Holmes let the Tamil people down - although he rightly condemned the LTTE also. I hope the UN Secy General will send men/women with a stronger mental makeup to confront injustice than this obviously pliable official.
ISS
I never supported LTTE but after seeing some horror videos, I swear that I will spend every once of my energy to bring down the Sinhala Nation to its knees owing to the UN and company.
Watch as the Tamil Diaspora look the other way as their so-called freedom fighters use their own people to cling to life.
Just remember this... You will never get a Tamil Only Homeland in Sri Lanka.
The more you continue along this path the worse off it will be for you people... If you cannot see this already then God help you all.
All these days artillery & MBRL fire into Vanni came from short range from SLA. But now long-range verbal cannon fire is reaching Vanni, thanks to the “captured Tiger” to shut up the Tamils.
2800 dead in 7 weeks – someone still wants proof.
Forced recruitment in combat zone – get the numbers and proof.
LTTE not allowing civilians to leave – where is the proof? (55,000 have left).
As GoSL & UN are reading from the same hymn sheet, why can’t UN go to Vanni and verify matters for the benefit of the world. (But then the cat will be out of the bag!)
Anyone who watched the comments at UN media stakeout could not have failed to note the underhand support given to the Sri Lankan govt to continue the present course of warfare. Many unseen hands are acting behind the scene for sure!
The opening salvos marginalizing the LTTE before any other matter is raised is the proven method of attack from the western diplomats. Eezham Tamils are not impressed by this tactic. Unable to directly attack the legitimate goals of the Tamils, which the West perceives as counter productive to its own strategic goals at this moment in time, it is resorting to these deceptive methods to undermine the just Tamil struggle for liberation.
I wonder what John Holmes will have to say if the war continues beyond the next month. He already feels uncomfortable at the stakeout. Hope he won’t be made to twist and turn.
The UN has become a talk shop. Even now they are unable to bring to bear pressure on GOSL and implement a practical solution. Even UN agencies are prevented from obtaining first hand information by GOSL. So whats the point in talking so much.
John Holmes and co-chairs only work with single minded along with India to wipe out Tigers in any cost of Tamils. These international countries or Sri Lankan government do not have any solution to Tamils proble.
It is not right to ask people to leave from home land. Foreign occupying foreces (i.e. SL GOV forces and Indian Forces) must vacate Tamils's land.
I lost any confidence in John Holmes.
Mr Holmes say's Tamils must leave there homes land and go to Sri lankan army hand,Can he go some where to live, how does Mr Holmes know that did he go there? no no no then how????????????????
Thanks.