UN says it is concerened for the safety of the civilians in the safe zone

UN human rights official Prof. Walter Kaelin said after a four-day visit to the conflict area that the Tamil Tigers should allow all civilians to leave.

He also called on the Sri Lankan government to scrupulously observe the area designated as a civilian safety zone.

“I am deeply concerned for the lives of over 100,000 civilians trapped in the 14-square kilometre area of the Vanni declared by the Government of Sri Lanka as a no-fire zone. Large numbers of civilians already have been killed or wounded,” he was quoted in a UN statement.

UK statement

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, has said recent reports of fighting in Sri Lanka inside the area designated as a civilian safety zone are deeply worrying.

	The UK has renewed the call for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka

He said the need for a ceasefire was even more urgent.

Mr Miliband said the Tamil Tigers must allow civilians to move to safety, and the Sri Lankan government and military must exercise the utmost restraint.

The calls come as a health official told the BBC that at least nine civilians were killed in shell attacks in the safe zone in northern Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Dr. T Varatharajah, government director of health for Mullaitivu district told BBC Sinhala service that 64 civilians were admitted with injuries after the latest shell attacks.

'Civilians killed'

The Sri Lanka armed forces, Dr. Varatharajah said, are about 800m away from the hospital and the staff could clearly see them.

“The shell attacks came from the area where Sri Lankan forces are stationed,” he told BBC Sandeshaya.

	Govt. says that the troops are taking utmost care to avoid civilian casualties

The official added that Puthumatalan hospital, the only functioning major hospital in the battle zone, received almost all emergency medicine supplies required and another supply is soon to be transported from Trincomalee by the ICRC.

“However, we are yet to receive our medicine quota for the first quarter,” he said.

The Sri Lankan government says that the troops are taking utmost care to avoid civilian casualties.

“We will have the most careful approach for our so-called entry in terms of securing our civilians who are now trapped by the LTTE,” Sri Lanka Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama told the BBC.