Posts Tagged ‘Tamil Tiger rebels’
Fears over Sri Lanka war children
[ BBC ] A growing number of children have been killed or injured in Sri Lankan fighting over the last 10 days, the UN children’s agency (Unicef) says. It has called on the government and Tamil Tiger rebels to give “absolute priority” to the safety of children and the wider civilian population. The Tamil Tigers…
Read MoreSri Lanka pledges safe passage for civilians
[Reuters] A U.N. convoy carrying hundreds of people wounded in shelling between Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan military left the war zone on Thursday after being held back two days ago, the United Nations said. “The convoy just crossed the frontline with hundreds of the civilians wounded by the fighting, including 50 critically…
Read MoreSri Lanka denies civilian crisis
[BBC] Sri Lanka’s government has denied Red Cross and UN reports of a major humanitarian crisis in the north, where troops are fighting Tamil Tiger rebels. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC that he had a policy of “zero” civilian casualties. The Red Cross believes that hundreds of civilians have been killed and hundreds…
Read MoreUN: staff came under fire in Sri Lanka ‘safe zone’
[ AP ] Dozens of U.N. workers and their relatives spent a terrifying night huddling in hastily built bunkers as artillery fire pounded a civilian “safe zone” in Sri Lanka’s war-wracked north, according to an internal U.N. memo. The memo, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, said the artillery shells killed nine civilians in a…
Read MoreCivilians ‘killed’ in Sri Lanka
[BBC] Medical staff in Sri Lanka say at least 18 civilians have been killed as the military continues its offensive on the northern bases of Tamil Tiger rebels. Hospital officials said the number killed in fighting around Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu could be much higher. The military said Mullaitivu – the last major rebel stronghold –…
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