‘Great danger’ for civilians in Sri Lanka conflict: UN

By pearlaction | February 28, 2009 |

[AFP] Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan civilians face “great danger” after being caught in fighting between Tamil rebels and the advancing military, a senior UN diplomat warned on Friday. “Estimates vary of the number of civilians trapped, from 70,000 according to the government, through around 200,000 according to UN estimates, up to 300,000 or…

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Civilian ‘slaughter’ in Sri Lanka

By pearlaction | February 20, 2009 |

[BBC] The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, has accused the Sri Lankan army of “slaughter” and rebels of “brutality” towards civilians in the north-east. It called on the government to end its “indiscriminate artillery attacks” on civilians and its policy of “detaining displaced persons in internment camps”. Human Rights Watch also condemned the Tamil Tigers…

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UN chief in S Lanka civilian plea

By pearlaction | February 19, 2009 |

[BBC] Visiting top UN humanitarian official John Holmes has urged Sri Lanka’s army and the Tamil Tigers to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. The government says the Tigers are using human shields, but the rebels say civilians are seeking their protection. This is Mr Holmes’s first visit since 2007 when his comment that…

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UN Envoy On Humanitarian Affairs To Arrive In Sri Lanka

By pearlaction | February 18, 2009 |

[AFP] The U.N.’s top envoy for humanitarian affairs John Holmes will arrive in Colombo on Thursday to assess Sri Lanka’s relief operations in its conflict zone, the government said. The visit comes after U.N.-appointed experts expressed concern earlier this month over “rapidly deteriorating conditions” facing civilians affected by the war between government troops and Tamil…

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