ICRc says injured civilians are regularly being brought into PTK hospital

It said the compound sustained two direct hits.

"We are shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second time in recent weeks,” head of the Colombo delegation of the International ICRC Paul Castella said.

"Wounded and sick people, medical personnel and medical facilities are all protected by international humanitarian law. Under no circumstance may they be directly attacked."

International law

The ICRC said currently over 500 in-patients are being treated in the hospital at the moment, some of them still waiting to be transferred to the government-controlled area for more adequate treatment.

Shell and missile attacks were severe as before. Five dead bodies of civilians were brought to the hospital during the last 48 hours Dr. Satyamurthy

On Thursday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa ahs ordered Tamil Tigers to release civilians under their control within 48 hours.

Kilinochchi district health director, Dr. Satyamurthy told BBC Tamil service that fighting intensified in areas surrounding the hospitals despite the government declaring safe zones for civilians.

“Shell and missile attacks were severe as before. Five dead bodies of civilians were brought to the hospital during the last 48 hours. A vehicle came under shell attack in front of Mallavi hospital while civilians were travelling. 13 injured civilians were admitted to hospital and an old lady who was admitted with gunshot wounds later succumbed to injuries,” he said.

As there are no radios or televisions, the civilians had no means to get updated news, he said. “Even if there are radio sets, one can hardly find batteries”.

Morven Murchison-Lochrie, an ICRC medical coordinator in Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital says the casualties are constantly being brought to the hospital.

"The staff are under acute stress, surrounded as they are by the sound of the ongoing fighting and the influx of new patients," she said.