UN stresses humanitarian standards for trapped civilians in Sri Lanka

While a serious concern over the security of almost 250,000 civilian Sri Lankans remains as they still remain close to confrontation lines, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the Sri Lankan government’s announcement of a safe passage for the trapped.

Referring to the International Humanitarian Law, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged both the LTTE rebels and the government to make sure that the proposed safe passage becomes a reality. He has requested especially the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to allow civilians to move to a safer zone.

Moreover, Ban Ki-moon has cautioned the Sri Lankan government to treat the civilians arriving from the Vanni and other conflict areas in conformity with the international standards that include their freedom of movement, their right to their basic needs, and their full access to humanitarian agencies. He adds, “For its part, the United Nations stands ready to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.”