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0 Comments | Asian Political News, August 7, 2006

U.N. agencies, NGOs seek 'humanitarian corridor' in Sri Lanka's east

COLOMBO, Aug. 4 Kyodo - U.N. relief agencies and nongovernmental organizations made an international appeal Friday for a ''humanitarian corridor'' in eastern Sri Lanka to ensure safe passage for civilians, aid workers and relief supplies amid fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The appeal for a corridor to Muttur in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province was made Friday by the Inter Agency Standing Committee Country Team, consisting of U.N. and humanitarian agencies working in the country.

''It is appalling to note the significant civilian casualties and distressing to know that civilians including the injured are still trapped in fear, cowering in public buildings which are getting caught in the crossfire,'' the team said in a statement.

The body includes the U.N. Development Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Program, and World Health Organization, as well as the World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross, OXFAM and Save the Children.

The appeal came as five more civilian deaths on Friday added to 17 fatalities including children resulting from refugee centers being hit by artillery and mortar exchanges between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan military.

The Defense Ministry placed military losses since the fighting in Muttur began Wednesday at 11, a number disputed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which said it wants to return the bodies of 40 servicemen through the Red Cross. The Red Cross made no comment on the fatality claims.

The Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Rev. Duleep de Chickera, warned that the escalation of hostilities could lead to large-scale war and called for an immediate cessation and a return to the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, which lies in tatters.

''The differences which sparked off these hostilities were negotiable and could have been resolved amicably,'' he said.

Norway, which is working desperately to get the peace process back on track, announced a $1.5 million grant to the Red Cross and other NGOs for work among the refugees as thousands of people, mostly Muslims, fled the heavy fighting.