Sri Lanka: ICRC president in Colombo to advocate better protection for civilians
07-04-2009 News Release 72/09
Geneva/Colombo (ICRC) – The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, is meeting the president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the foreign minister, Rohitha Bogollagama, in Colombo today to discuss the humanitarian situation in the country and present and future ICRC activities.
" The main objective of my visit is to strengthen the protection afforded to people trapped by the fighting in northern Sri Lanka and to enhance their safety. I will do my utmost to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from the conflict area, " said Mr Kellenberger on the eve of his one-day visit.
Fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continues amid growing fears for the lives of civilians, particularly the wounded and sick, trapped in the conflict area. The ICRC is the only international humanitarian organization still present in the area. During the past two months it has carried out an evacuation by sea of over 7,000 people, most of whom were wounded or sick. However, tens of thousands of civilians – most of them displaced (IDPs) – remain in the area with limited access to medical care, shelter, water and sanitation.
" I will also discuss with the Sri Lankan government the practical steps required to lay the basis for an effective ICRC response in behalf of displaced people and others affected by violence throughout the country, " added Mr Kellenberger.
The ICRC president will also meet with senior Sri Lanka Red Cross Society officials.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Schorno, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 79 251 9302
Sarasi Wijeratne, ICRC Colombo, tel: +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 773 158 844