The horror that is unfolding in Sri Lanka becomes possible because of the silence that surrounds it. There is almost no reporting in the mainstream Indian media — or indeed in the international press — about what is happening there. Why this should be so is a matter of serious concern. From the little information […]
Full text of John Holmes brief to the UN Council: Briefing on the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka John Holmes, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator 26 March 2009 Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to brief members of the Council about the current humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. I also […]
Since 10 February the ICRC has evacuated thousands of people from conflict-weary northern Sri Lanka to Trincomalee district for medical treatment. Martin Hermann, an ICRC surgeon, speaks about the evacuated patients and his work. Why is the ICRC evacuating civilians out of the Vanni? As fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers […]
Written by: An NGO in Sri Lanka A partner NGO supported by Christian Aid UK-Ireland has gathered stories from people living in the “welfare centres” in northern Sri Lanka. Here are their accounts: “My husband was pushing me on a bicycle, searching for safe areas”, says a disabled mother, paralysed from the waist down. “In […]
Geneva/Colombo (ICRC) – A staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was hit by a shell and killed instantly this morning while fetching water for his family near Ampalavanpokanai, on the coastal belt of the territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). “We feel devastated and are deeply […]
Eyewitness reports horrific experiences at makeshift hospital – Mr Theyva, a local humanitarian worker in War Zone 1st April 2009 Humanitarian worker Theivendran (Theyva) at Puthumaaththa’lan makeshift hospitalVoice: Eyewitness account by Theyva (1/2) Humanitarian worker Theivendran (Theyva) at Puthumaaththa’lan makeshift hospitalVoice: Eyewitness account by Theyva (2/2) Further excerpts from Theyvendran’s eyewitness account “We have […]
8 April 2009 Reporters Without Borders has gathered information from various sources that supports the theory that the Sri Lankan authorities are blocking the investigation into the murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga in Colombo on 8 January, exactly three months ago today.Government officials, including Keheliya Rambukwella, said at the end of January that […]
Sri Lankan Government intensifies it attack ( indiscriminate shelling and gun fire ) on tamil civilians living in ‘Safe zone’ and a bloodbath on the beach imminent is imminent a health worker attached to puthumaththalan makeshift hospital told to WWW today ( 10th April 2009). Some photos from the war zone obtained by WWW are below.
WE ARE appalled at reports of mass deaths of Sri Lankan Tamils trapped in a small area of the Vanni region in northern Sri Lanka. Both electronic and print media have reported the death of over 700 Tamils in the last couple days, with only a section of them being identified as Liberation Tigers of […]
17 April 2009 An official two-day ceasefire in Sri Lanka which ended on Wednesday has not helped to end the suffering of around 100,000 civilians trapped in the conflict zone.According to media reports, John Holmes, the United Nations (UN) under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said that the 48-hour break in hostilities to allow aid […]
