U.N. Envoy Arrives in Sri Lanka ("unimaginable humanitarian catstrophe")

[Coventina]

Source: New York Times

HONG KONG — A senior United Nations envoy arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday for possible cease-fire talks with the government as tens of thousands of ethnic Tamil civilians remained in peril in what the Red Cross said was “an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe.”

The director of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Pierre Krahenbuhl, said relief workers had been unable in recent days to use boats and ferries to help civilians escape fierce fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger separatists. Seaborne deliveries of emergency food aid also were blocked.

Sri Lankan soldiers continued to tighten the noose around a few hundred rebels who are surrounded on a patch of boggy beachfront about two square miles in size. Most civilians trapped in the combat zone have literally gone to ground, seeking protection in hand-dug bunkers and under ruined buildings.

The chief of staff to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Vijay Nambiar, was due to meet with senior officials in Colombo on Friday. A United Nations spokeswoman also said Mr. Ban is considering a trip to Sri Lanka, at the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/world/asia/16lanka.html?ref=global-home

[LeftishBrit]

1. This is horrific, and still not getting enough media coverage

I hope the situation can be turned round before yet more people are massacred.

[WriteDown]

2. Nor enough DU coverage...

Sri Lanka just apparently isn't a "hot" topic. :(