His mother died in the same incident, which occurred around noon. This is the third time in just over two months that an ICRC employee has been killed inside the conflict zone.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of our friend and colleague Sivakurunathan Majuran and of his mother, and extend our heartfelt condolences to their family and friends," said Paul Castella, the ICRC's head of delegation in Colombo. "This latest tragic incident shows how dangerous it is for everyone in the area."

Mr Majuran was 31 years old. He began working for the ICRC in October 2005 as a member of the water and habitat team. He was married and the father of a five-year-old child. His wife and child are still in the conflict zone; their fate is currently unknown.

Two other ICRC water technicians, Vadivel Vijayakumar and Sinnathurai Kugathasan, who had been involved in ICRC evacuations of sick and wounded people from the conflict area, were killed by shrapnel on 4 March and on 8 April, respectively.

The ICRC is striving to continue to bring food to people trapped in the conflict zone and to evacuate patients. However, intense and uninterrupted fighting prevented it from carrying out these life-saving activities yesterday and today, 12 and 13 May. A new attempt will be made tomorrow.