UNICEF says a numer of children were caught in the crossfire in the north

In a statement issued from Kathmandu, UNICEF said that many children, some just months old, are being killed and injured in the past ten days in Sri Lanka’s north.

The UN children agency has called upon both Sri Lanka government and the LTTE to safeguard children and civilians caught in the conflict.

“We have clear evidence that children are being caught in the crossfire, and that children are being injured and killed,” said UNICEF’s Regional Director for South Asia, Daniel Toole.

“It is crucial that safe areas, schools and medical facilities are protected and considered zones of peace, in all circumstances”.

Mullaitivu doctor

In the battlefront, Mullaitivu district health director Dr. Vartharaja told BBC Sandeshaya that over 130 civilians were admitted to the hospitals in the district within the last 48 hours.

	Ms. Pillay has accused both parties for the plight of the civilians

He was speaking from Pudukudiyiruppu hospital.

“There have been heavier shell attacks today around the hospitals,” he said.

“We already have nearly 300 patients injured in fighting. And there are other patients also. Only four doctors in the hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx,” he told BBC Sinhala service.

ICRC is negotiating to send another convoy of injured civilians to Vavuniya on Saturday, he added.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay on Thursday expressed deep concerns over the plight of the civilians caught in the in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka.

UN High Commissioner

She raised concerns over reports of LTTE preventing them to leave the conflict zone and government detaining those leaving the area.

We already have nearly 300 patients injured in fighting. And there are other patients also. Only four doctors in the hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx Mullaitivu district health director, Dr. Varatharaja

“People trying to flee the conflict areas are reported to have either been prevented from doing so, or to have been arbitrarily detained in special centres,” Ms. Pillay said.

“It seems there may have been very grave breaches of human rights by both sides in the conflict, and it is imperative that we find out more about what exactly has been going on. It is also urgent that civilians in the north can find safe shelter, away from the fighting.”

The United Nations estimate that nearly two hundred and fifty thousand civilians are caught in the conflict.

Government response

The government has criticised Ms. Pillay of failing notice the difference between an elected government and “terrorists”.

	Govt. says Ms. pillay has fallen into to the "same trap as previous UN officials"

In a statement issued on Friday, Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights Prof. Rajiva Wijesinhe has accused the UN High Commissioner of falling into the “same trap as previous UN officials”.

Appreciating Ms. Pillay for noting LTTE’s human rights abuses, Prof. Wijesinhe says he is sad about the High Commissioner’s accusations against the government.

“It should also be noted that UN officials in Sri Lanka have been clear about the fact that it was the LTTE that prevented people trying to flee the areas from doing so, and have finally made categorical statements to that effect,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UN said it has provided 125 million US dollars as development aid to Sri Lanka in 2008.

In a statement issued by the United Nations Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Sri Lanka, the UN said the funds were allocated for Sri Lanka government efforts to meet development goals over five years.