lanka

Forced to flee their homes by fresh outbreak of fighting

Sri Lanka: 20,000 people uprooted by new Government-separatist fighting, UN reports

9 January 2007
More than 20,000 people have fled fighting between the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil separatists in the Indian Ocean island’s eastern costal strip of Vaharai in the past three weeks, but despite reaching relative safety they still they face many problems and an uncertain future, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

UN calls for the protection of civilians in Sri Lanka as over 20 killed and dozens maimed

8 January 2007
Condemning the latest attacks on civilians in strife-torn Sri Lanka, which left more than 20 dead and dozens maimed, the United Nations office on the island today called for their immediate protection and warned of worsening conditions in the east, where thousands of people remain trapped by the fighting between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Sri Lanka: UN calls for warring parties to resume talks after at least 14 more are killed

2 January 2007
Following the killing of at least 14 civilians in Sri Lanka today, the United Nations called on the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop fighting, protect the innocent and resume talks.

Sri Lanka: Young child among 7 killed while fleeing fighting; UN urges end to conflict

15 December 2006
A young child was among seven Sri Lankan displaced persons who died today when their boat capsized while they were fleeing fighting between Government troops and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the east of the island, the United Nations said, repeating calls for both sides to protect civilians and end the conflict.

UN demands protection for Sri Lankan civilians under fire from deadly shelling

12 December 2006
The top United Nations official in strife-torn Sri Lanka has called on both sides in the conflict to urgently protect civilians in Vaharai in the east of the island, after five days of deadly shelling that has killed an unknown number, left dozens wounded and forced thousands to flee their homes.

UN-backed relief convoy reaches 40,000 Sri Lankans cut off for past month by fighting

30 November 2006
A humanitarian convoy of 84 trucks organized with United Nations help has brought in food, fuel and medical supplies to 40,000 displaced Sri Lankans cut off for the past month by fighting between the Government and Tamil separatists in the north-east of the strife-torn Indian Ocean island.

UN adviser finds Sri Lanka’s children ‘at risk from all sides’ in the bloody conflict

14 November 2006
Elements of Sri Lanka’s security forces are helping a breakaway rebel group abduct children to fight the separatist Tamil Tigers, while the rebels themselves continue to use child soldiers in their conflict against the Government, a United Nations adviser has said after a 10-day assessment mission to the strife-torn country.

Sri Lanka: Annan stresses ‘urgent need’ to end spiralling violence, return to talks

10 November 2006
With the deadly conflict between Sri Lanka’s Government and Tamil Tiger separatists escalating dramatically this week, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today emphasized the “urgent need” to end the spiralling violence and called on both sides to immediately return to the peace process.
USG Jan Egeland

Sri Lanka: UN official calls on all sides to protect civilians after deadly army shelling

9 November 2006
The top United Nations relief official today called on all sides in the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil separatist rebels to protect civilians after an army artillery bombardment yesterday hit a school sheltering 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), killing at least 23 people and wounding 135 others.

Sri Lanka: UN rights chief hails probe into extrajudicial killings but voices concerns

7 November 2006
The top United Nations human rights official today welcomed Sri Lanka's establishment of a commission of inquiry into extrajudicial killings and disappearances, but expressed concern that shortcomings in the national legal system could hamper its effectiveness.