UN 'deeply concerned' about trapped civilians in Sri Lanka

The United Nations today said it was “deeply concerned” about indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas in Sri Lanka’s east where tens of thousands of civilians, most Tamils, are caught in fighting.

An estimated 35,000 civilians are trapped in eastern Batticaloa, as the Sri Lankan military and the rebels fight over territory.

Yesterday, the military said a fierce day-long artillery and mortar battle in the area had killed 24 soldiers and 40 rebels. “The critical need of the moment is the protection of these desperate civilians,” the world body said in a statement.

“The United Nations is deeply concerned about indiscriminate shelling of civilian residential areas, leading to death, injuries and evacuation of communities out of danger zones.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it had evacuated 30 wounded civilians, including seven children, from Vaharai village, the worst hit, in Batticaloa district to hospital in safer areas yesterday.

Today, a roadside bomb blast blamed on rebels killed one soldier, wounded two others in Mannar in north-western Sri Lanka.