Brussels, 12/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has expressed considerable concern about the emergency situation in which an estimated 170,000 civilians are trapped in the combat zone between the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), deprived of access to the most elementary assistance. With the adoption, on Thursday 12 March in Strasbourg, of a resolution on the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, the EP “calls for an immediate ceasefire by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE in order to allow the civilian population to leave the combat zone” and “condemns all acts of violence and intimidation which are preventing civilians from leaving the conflict area”.
The EP also “condemns attacks against civilians” and states its concern about information pointing to the considerable over-crowding and deplorable conditions in refugee camps established by Sri Lanka. International and national humanitarian organisations as well as journalists should, the EP says, have unlimited and unhindered access to the combat area. (L.C./transl.jl)