We the undersigned are deeply concerned about the GRAVE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS that is unfolding in Sri Lanka against Tamil civilians.

The current situation in the North and East of Sri Lanka has reached an apex of human suffering and destruction.  Thousands of civilians, many of whom are children, are being confined to a tiny sqaure of land which is constantly under indiscriminate artillary and air attacks.  This area has been designated a 'safe zone'.

Beyond the battle zones, the fleeing civlians have been herded into so-called 'internment camps'.  However the reality of the camps is very different.  There are allegations of physical and sexual abuse, atrocious living and hygiene conditions and also of alarmingly  short supply of medicines and food.  Nick Paton- Walsh was deported from Sri Lanka at the personal request of the defence minister of Sri Lanka after he produced this report of the true nature of the camps:
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/grim%20scenes%20at%20sri%20lankan%20camps%20/3126257


Excerpts from The Times article 17/5/2009:

Thousands of civilians were trapped last night as Asia’s longest-running civil war neared its endgame amid scenes of “unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe”.

A government doctor in the area said hundreds of wounded civilians, many of them dying from their injuries, had crowded into a makeshift hospital that he was forced to abandon two days ago because of shelling. “They are dying without proper treatment,” said Thurairajah Varatharajah. “Dead bodies are all lying on the floor. We are unable to bury or clear them. It is a very pathetic situation.”

He said: “We are in fear not just for my life, but for all the civilians and patients and staff. Here there is no food, no water, nothing.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross, the only neutral organisation working in the conflict area, said its staff were “witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6291323.ece

We call upon the International Community and the UN Security Council to intervene immediately and demand that the Sri Lankan government respect the human rights of civilians.

Thank you

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