Humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka

Communiqué of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

(April 08, Paris,Sri Lanka Guardian) France is deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, as presented during an informal meeting of the Security Council on 26 March, by UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Coordinator for Emergency Relief, John Holmes. France follows closely the developments on the ground.

Bernard Kouchner has personally informed his Sri Lankan counterpart, of his concern and has notably expressed France's willingness to offer relief assistance to the displaced civilian population.

Following this interaction, the Crisis Centre of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has put in place two projects of assistance to the populations affected by the fighting, through ACTED and Handicap International.

According to estimates, between 70,000 and 150,000 persons are trapped inside the conflict zones. The humanitarian operations carried out notably by the ICRC have enabled to rescue several thousands of persons and to dispatch help, but the gravity of the situation requires new measures, in particular permanent and indiscriminate access to the populations. It is unacceptable that the LTTE continues to hold back the civilians and carries on with its recruitment of child soldiers.

All measures must be put in place by the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to protect the persons who are presently caught in the conflict areas. The protection of the civilian populations is a priority. The urgent need of the hour is to save the civilian population. We call for a humanitarian respite to allow the evacuation of people and access for humanitarian organizations.

We call for an international mobilisation to bring all necessary assistance to the displaced people who have managed to flee the conflict area and are now in transit camps.

These camps must be in accordance with recognised international norms: civilian in character, freedom of mobility, with access for humanitarian agencies. While we understand the security concerns of the Sri Lankan authorities, France calls on the latter to treat the displaced populations in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian laws.

The LTTE must lay down arms and permanently renounce violence and terrorism. Only a political solution can respond to the legitimate concerns of all communities and bring this conflict to an end.

-Sri Lanka Guardian