Access to thousands of civilians who have fled fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northwestern Mannar District between June and July was critical to prevent further hardship, according to UN officials.
As the conflict intensifies in
The raging fighting in Vanni is driving civilians out of northern parts of Manthai West in Mannar and Kilinochchi's Mulankavil area. They are travelling further north into Poonagary and central Karachchi, also in Kilinochchi district. This follows population movements within Kilinochchi district earlier in July, with people moving from Manthai East and Thunukkai further north into areas like Karachchi and Oddusudan.
The UNHCR estimates that more than 12,000 families -- 60,000 people in total -- were displaced in July alone as a result of shifting frontlines.
"Although exact figures are still sketchy, more than 12,000 families are reported to have been displaced in July alone," said UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond, expressing deep concern at a press briefing in
"Movements, including multiple displacements, are continuing as people move ahead of the shifting frontlines to avoid the cross fire and stay out of shelling range."
He added that UN access to the majority of 10,000 internally displaced families in Karachchi has been cut off south and west of Akkaryan due to relief workers' security concerns.
Sri Lankan security forces are blamed for the killing numerous aid workers including 17 working for French NGO agency, Action Contra Farm, in an execution style killing in August 2006.
Need for new sites
The displaced families are being accommodated in several areas in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. A majority are staying out in the open. Some areas have reportedly exhausted their absorption capacity and four sites that were earlier designated and cleared in case of an emergency, could not be used as military operations moved closer.
UNHCR, local authorities and other agencies are distributing emergency shelter kits and tarpaulins to those in need and are looking into identifying additional sites to accommodate the newly displaced.
"We call on both parties to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of those affected; to allow freedom of movement for those seeking safety from the ongoing operations; and to ensure that the internally displaced are neither targeted nor located near military targets," said Redmond.
The call comes amidst Sri Lankan security forces step attacks against civilians. Sri Lankan Army and Air Force targeted hospitals and populous settlements killing 5 civilians and injuring at least 22, last week.
Supplies ‘Dangerously low’
Thousands of families displaced by warfare in Sri Lanka's northern region are in danger because of dwindling emergency aid stocks, Redmond said and appealed to the Sri Lankan authorities to allow unhindered passage for essential supplies as soon as possible, noting that strict restrictions on the transportation of goods into the region have prevented humanitarian agencies from replenishing dangerously low supplies of food, shelter materials, water and sanitation equipment, and fuel for the transportation of civilians.
The UNHCR spokesman appealed, "UNHCR is urging all parties to allow humanitarian access to the affected population, so that those affected can be provided with much-needed assistance in a timely manner and in line with international humanitarian law and practices."
"Efforts by humanitarian agencies to replenish the stocks are hindered by the strict restrictions on the transport of goods into the region," said
According to a World Food Programme (WFP) report there are at least 145,000 IDPs, including the newly displaced, in areas under the control of the LTTE in
