The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, in a statement to the UN Security Council stated that more than 50,000 people stuck in the crisis zone in the Sri Lanka conflict are having to bear well beyond what is expected from humans, with dire situation of food, medicine and constant threat from LTTE and the Government forces.

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The entire statement of the Undersecretary General to the Security Council can be read here.

Some Excerpts

Over 50,000 people trapped in less than 10square kilometers of land that is under heavy fighting. While evidence suggests that most of that population wants to leave, the LTTE continues to prevent this and forcibly recruits more young people to support their fighting. For its part, while the government has said it would not use heavy weapons to limit civilian casualties,  evidence on the ground suggests otherwise.

The daily reality of those trapped inside is overwhelmingly beyond what any human being should bear.  There is significant risk of death and injury from ongoing fighting. In addition, much suffering is caused by scarcity of food, water and medical supplies.

The second part of the humanitarian crisis is for those who have fled the conflict zone - over 170000 people are in govenrment camps, mostly in Vavuniya district. Tens of thousands of these people live in overcrowded camps and are suffering physically and mentally. Many of them have had harrowing experiences to escape the fighting. Families have been split up and children, the elderly and pregnant women are in dire conditions, especially vulnerable.