Sri Lanka: The Crisis Continues

Katherine Bragg, Special Representative for the Secretary-General on Sri Lanka spoke to journalists today on the growing humanitarian crisis.  Ms. Bragg said the situation is critical–where an increasing number of internally displaced are stuck in heavy fighting areas. There are many reports of civilian casualties. The Sri Lankan government is trying to relocate over 100,000 internally displaced civilians. The rebel group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or Tamil Tigers, are using people as human shields.

“The situation has been horrendous since a major offensive which began in early January,” said Bragg.

The Sri Lankan government has pinned down the last of the Tigers in a five square mile no-fire zone on the coast which has quickly turned into a conflict zone.

The United Nations team in Sri Lanka has been unable to assist those trapped in the fighting. The UN reported an “overload in the system”. There has been an increase of 26,000 more internally displaced. Bragg said extra camp sites to house the displaced are urgently needed. There are currently 95,000 people in the camps.

The current crisis of the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government has been coined as Asia’s longest running war in history. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said this week “I think that the Sri Lankan government knows the entire world is very disappointed that in its efforts to end what it sees as 25 years of conflict, it is causing such untold suffering.”