Approximately 50,000 civilians are trapped in an escalating humanitarian crisis where they lack food and medical care and they are also at grave risk of injury or death due to the escalating conflict in northern Sri Lanka. The UN estimates that more than 6,500 civilians have died and 1,3000 have been injured in the fighting in this region of Sri Lanka. Hundreds of civilian casualties have been reported since 20 April.
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Who is involved in this conflict?
The conflict between the Sri Lankan government and an armed opposition group called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The conflict has escalated since early 2009 and has been marked by grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
What sorts of war crimes have been committed in Sri Lanka?
It is a basic rule of international humanitarian law that combatants must at all times distinguish between civilians and those taking part in the fighting, and between civilian objects and military objectives. Civilians must never be the object of attack. Indiscriminate attacks, namely attacks which could be expected to cause loss of civilian lives or damage to civilian objects that is excessive to legitimate military advantage sought, are also prohibited at all times. International humanitarian law applies equally to states’ armed forces and to armed groups such as the LTTE.
Waiting for food in the Sri Lanka 'No Fire Zone' Vanni, April 2009 © Private
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Why are there so many civilians trapped in the combat zone?
In recent months government forces have pushed the LTTE out of all the major urban areas that they had held for almost a decade and into a small pocket of land in northern Sri Lanka. More than 50,000 civilians who fled the advancing government troops are trapped in this small area with the LTTE. Aerial and artillery bombardment of the combat zone by the Sri Lankan armed forces since mid-April has killed thousands of civilians and wounded many others.
Why have more civilians not fled from the combat zone?
In many cases the LTTE have prevented civilians from fleeing from the combat zone and some of those who fled were shot at by the LTTE. In recent days thousands of civilians have fled from the combat zone. Some civilians who are trapped in the combat zone are afraid to flee as they fear the consequences they may face from the Sri Lankan armed forces. Amnesty International has reported that civilians fleeing the conflict zone are being held by the Sri Lankan government in de facto detention centers. There is no standard registration process for displaced families entering the ‘reception centers’ and there is limited monitoring by international agencies. Families report cases of young men going missing after being arrested during the initial screening process.