UN says the situation is 'too dangerous' in Kilinochchi

“The UN has received assurances from the LTTE that UN and humanitarian agency staff remaining in Kilinochchi can leave. We intend moving those staff in a single convoy at 10am tomorrow morning,” a statement issued by UN spokesman in Colombo, Gordon Weiss stated.

The UN expects that the workers and the vehicles will be offered a safe passage by the LTTE to Omanthai check point.

Daily shelling

“We reiterate that we have been compelled to temporarily relocate from Kilinochchi because of our security assessment that the situation has become too dangerous to remain working from there at this time,” the statement added.

Fighting has increased considerably. It has come much closer to Kilinochchi. There is daily shelling. There has benn several instances in which shelling has come closer to our compound Gordon Weiss

The spokesman on Sunday told BBC Sandeshaya that the pullout form Kilinochchi was temporarily halted due to protests by the civilians.

Asked how the LTTE could offer assurances when civilians are protesting their pullout, he told BBC Sandeshaya on Monday: “The LTTE are the de-facto authority there and they hold powers of policing people there”.

The security situation in Vanni is increasingly becoming dangerous for the aid workers to continue working, he added.

“Fighting has increased considerably. It has come much closer to Kilinochchi. There is daily shelling. There has been several instances in which shelling has come closer to our compound,” Gordon Weiss told BBCSinhala.com.