Tamils In Conflict Zone in Sri Lanka Have Little Food

[Gregorian]

Source: Voice of America

U.N. aid agencies say they have no access to an estimated 50,000 people trapped in a conflict zone in northern Sri Lanka. The agencies say the Tamil civilians are unable to flee the area to safety and they cannot enter the zone to help them.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed in recent fighting between Sri Lankan government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. Aid agencies say they are horrified by, what they call, a bloodbath. And, the U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki- Moon says he is outraged at the appalling loss of life.


"The humanitarian situation for those trapped inside the conflict zone, obviously is desperate and reports are indicating that many of the fleeing IDPs have not had a proper meal in days," Casella said. "What we are seeing among the newly arrived IDPs children under five, pregnant and lactating women and elderly are reportedly significantly under-nourished due to the long distances that they are traveling and the lack of adequate food while in the conflict zone."


Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-12-voa54.cfm

[oberliner]

1. This situation seems to be continuing to spiral downwards

Can any pressure on the parties involved be brought to bear from anywhere?

[Vehl]

2. sadly, no one seems really interested in doing so :(

the British Foreign secretary was unceremoniously evicted from the island after he and Srilankan Defense secretary(also the brother of the president..its all "in the family" )argued about access to the civilians.


even now no journalists or diplomats are allowed to visit the civilians..and any journalist who does; is deported from the country (like the British Channel 4 reporter's who were evicted a couple of days back; when they discovered what their government minders did not want them to see.


UN monitors would be a good first step. Srilankan government is vehemently opposed to this though.

[aquart]

3. When a government decides to murder its own people...

There's precious little anyone can do. Had Germany contented itself with simply murdering its own Jews, Gypsies, Reds, and Catholics, they would have disappeared with little trace, becoming part of a charming mythology. It was invading other countries that brought down armies upon them.

[Vehl]

4. good point..but we ought to have learned something from WW2....

I was thinking along the same lines yesterday; if not for Germany invading other countries...no one would have done anything about the Holocaust. Whats sad however..is that even now we are apparently very selective in where we show our outrage over such events...especially when powerful countries like China support SriLanka...for their own military ends.

he Un security council Veto system should be reformed...too many countries, and too many genocides just pass under the radar cos some UN Veto nation prevents the other security council members from bringing censure against the offending nation; just like what China did in Lanka's case.

[oberliner]

5. Rights groups: satellite shows Sri Lanka shelling

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Satellite images of Sri Lanka's war zone along with witness accounts indicate the government has shelled the densely populated area in recent days despite its repeated denials, a human rights group said Wednesday.

Health officials in the tiny coastal strip still under rebel control say the area was repeatedly pummeled by artillery attacks — including the shelling of a hospital — that killed as many as 1,000 civilians in recent days as the government pushed ahead with its offensive.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the conflict zone "as close to hell as you can get," and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed alarm at the civilian casualties.

[bemildred]

6. These final battles they are having are sure dragging on. nt

[ohio2007]

7. Obama to Tigers " Let go the human shields and put down your weapons"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=adb_1242334314

and wants Sri Lankan govt to ease up on the heavy weapons fire