Civilians suffer in Sri Lanka fight

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune

Washington, 14 May, (Asiantribune.com): As the battle between the Sri Lanka military and the LTTE has intensified, the humanitarian groups around the world are getting concerned about the civilians trapped in the war zone. With each passing day, the situation is getting worse - pushing the groups voice louder to help the local population stuck in the area.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday that shelling in Sri Lanka's war zone killed one of its workers.

ICRC officials also said that the fighting between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels was so heavy that their ferry could not deliver medical supplies or transport wounded from the combat zone.

On the other hand, Human Rights Watch has said that satellite images contradict government claims that its armed forces are no longer using heavy weapons in the densely populated northern region.

The New York based group said in a statement that a health official in the area had told them the weapons were being fired from an area under government control.
It further added that witnesses have described sheltering from artillery attacks and being prevented by the Tamil Tiger rebels from escaping to government-controlled areas.

The group's Asia director, Brad Adams, said neither the army nor the rebels appear to have any reluctance in using civilians as "cannon fodder." The United Nations aid agencies said they have little access to an estimated 50,000 civilians who are trapped in the conflict zone.

The United States and Britain have called for an immediate end to hostilities in northern Sri Lanka and the safe evacuation of civilians. The appeal came after Sri Lanka's top government doctor said at least 47 patients died when a mortar hit the only remaining medical facility in the northern war zone.

Tamil Tiger rebels blamed government forces for Tuesday's attack, but the military denies the charge and has accused the rebels of shelling fellow Tamils to gain international sympathy and support for a truce.

- Asian Tribune -