In 2008 and 2009, the worsening conflict left 250,000 people trapped in a 250-square-kilometre area. They faced intense fighting and lacked food, water, sanitation and health care. Although it was difficult to access the affected area, the ICRC worked with the Sri Lanka Red Cross to evacuate the sick and wounded from the combat zone by sea and to facilitate the delivery of food and limited quantities of medicines into the area.

The ICRC reminded both parties to the conflict of their obligations to comply with international humanitarian law, emphasizing that IHL required all parties to refrain from harming civilians, to allow them to receive aid and to enable humanitarian agencies to work safely.

Since the beginning of July, the ICRC has been reviewing its operations and presence in the country at the request of the government. By 17 July 2009, four offices in Eastern Province had closed (Trincomalee, Mutur, Batticaloa and Akkaipattu) and activities in this region had been suspended. During the same period, activities carried out from Vavuniya and Mannar offices were put on hold pending further clarification and agreement with the government.

The ICRC continues to help displaced and resident civilians and people detained in relation to the recent conflict in the Jaffna peninsula, in Colombo and in the rest of the country.

Presence (2009): 646 staff including 70 expatriates