After the war, attention turns to Sri Lankan peace
Aid agencies warn Sri Lanka must face up to humanitarian crisis caused by military victory over Tamil Tigers
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Tuesday, 19, May 2009 06:12
A day after Sri Lanka declared victory in its 26-year civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, attention is turning to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country's north.
Up to a quarter of a million civilians are understood to have been uprooted by the military's final offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which culminated yesterday with the death of rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Tens of thousands of malnourished people caught up in the fighting are continuing to flee the area, swamping already overwhelmed refugee camps, aid agencies have warned.
Christian Aid has urged the Sri Lankan government to "ensure that they win the peace" following their military victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"The priority now is to help those who have had to flee their homes to rebuild their lives," said the charity's Asia division director Robin Greenwood.
"Thousands of people who have escaped the fighting are already being held by the Sri Lankan government in temporary camps. Tens of thousands more are likely to arrive in the coming days. But these camps are already severely over-crowded and unable to meet the basic food and shelter needs of those who are arriving," he continued.
"Many children have witnessed terrible scenes as they escaped with their parents to safety. Some saw their parents killed or were separated from them during the journey."
The Red Cross also warned it was largely in the dark about the needs of civilians and the wounded after being unable to access the affected areas.
Pierre Krähenbühl, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned Colombo that authorities were obliged to offer care for the wounded and treat detainees humanely.
"This is all the more urgent since no humanitarian aid has reached those who need it for over a week," he explained.
Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia Pacific director, added: "The Sri Lankan government must ensure that its forces fully respect international law, including all provisions relating to protecting civilians from the effect of hostilities.
"The government should accept the surrender of any LTTE fighter who wants to surrender and treat humanely LTTE fighters who have laid down their arms. In turn, the LTTE must also protect civilians and any Sri Lankan soldier they take prisoner."
In the final stage of the Sri Lankan offensive against the remaining Tamil Tigers, up to 7,000 civilians are thought to have died, with both sides accusing the other of war crimes.