Sri Lanka: humanitarian assistance can no longer reach civilians

For the third consecutive day, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and anchored only a few kilometres away from the conflict area has been unable to evacuate patients because of continuous heavy fighting.

"Our staff are witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe," said the ICRC's director of operations, Pierre Krähenbühl, from the ICRC's headquarters in Geneva today. "Despite high-level assurances, the lack of security on the ground means that our sea operations continue to be stalled, and this is unacceptable," added Mr Krähenbühl. "No humanitarian organisation can help them in the current circumstances. People are left to their own devices."

An ICRC ferry, the Green Ocean, is carrying 25 metric tonnes of urgently needed food. The last time the ICRC could offload food and medical supplies and evacuate patients was last Saturday, 9th May. In addition to the ferry, a cargo ship, the Oriental Princess, carrying another 500 metric tonnes of food from the World Food Programme, is waiting off the coast north of Mullaittivu, ready to deliver the food to civilians.

Noel Wardick, Head of International Department of the Irish Red Cross, said, "the situation is critical, and we fully support the ICRC in stressing the need to ensure that the most vulnerable are evacuated in safety and relief supplies are brought in for the civilians trapped by the conflict”.

"The Red Cross needs security and unimpeded access now in order to save hundreds of lives," added Mr Wardick. "The ICRC stands ready and able to carry out its humanitarian work as soon as conditions permit."

Notes for Editors

Last Saturday, 9th May, was the last time the ICRC-chartered ferry was able to reach the conflict area. It offloaded food and life-saving medical supplies, and evacuated 516 wounded and sick patients and their accompanying relatives. Fighting had also made it impossible for the ferry to approach the shore on the previous day, 8th May.

Since mid-February, the ICRC has been able to evacuate nearly 14,000 people from the area and deliver over 2,350 metric tonnes of food and other essential items. The Irish Red Cross has recently been able to channel much needed funds to the ICRC from public donations in Ireland to assist them in their work.