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| UN envoy in Sri Lanka peace bid | UN envoy in Sri Lanka peace bid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The United Nations is sending an envoy to Sri Lanka, in an effort to resolve the growing humanitarian crisis there. | The United Nations is sending an envoy to Sri Lanka, in an effort to resolve the growing humanitarian crisis there. |
| The secretary general's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, will press for an end to the fighting beween government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, the UN says. | The secretary general's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, will press for an end to the fighting beween government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, the UN says. |
| The government has rejected calls to halt its offensive in the north-east. | The government has rejected calls to halt its offensive in the north-east. |
| The Red Cross has called Sri Lanka's crisis an "unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe". The UN says about 50,000 civilians are trapped in the war zone. | The Red Cross has called Sri Lanka's crisis an "unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe". The UN says about 50,000 civilians are trapped in the war zone. |
| Colombo disputes this figure and says it expects to recapture all the territory still held by the rebels within a few days. | |
| See a map of the conflict region | |
| Mr Nambiar is returning to Sri Lanka a month after he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa but failed to secure access to the war zone for humanitarian teams. | Mr Nambiar is returning to Sri Lanka a month after he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa but failed to secure access to the war zone for humanitarian teams. |
| The UN secretary general's spokeswoman Marie Okabe said Mr Nambiar would raise the fate of trapped civilians. | The UN secretary general's spokeswoman Marie Okabe said Mr Nambiar would raise the fate of trapped civilians. |
| "The secretary general has urged the government of Sri Lanka to explore all possible options to bring the conflict to an end without further bloodshed," Ms Okabe said. | "The secretary general has urged the government of Sri Lanka to explore all possible options to bring the conflict to an end without further bloodshed," Ms Okabe said. |
| Out of reach | Out of reach |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said a chartered ferry had been unable to deliver aid or evacuate the wounded for three days. | The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said a chartered ferry had been unable to deliver aid or evacuate the wounded for three days. |
| "Our staff are witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe," said ICRC director of operations Pierre Krahenbuhl, based in Geneva. | "Our staff are witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe," said ICRC director of operations Pierre Krahenbuhl, based in Geneva. |
| SATELLITE IMAGERY Human rights groups' report on High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and the Conflict in Sri Lanka [7.36 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Sri Lanka images 'prove damage' Sri Lanka warned on war crimes Tamils hunt for news of relatives | SATELLITE IMAGERY Human rights groups' report on High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and the Conflict in Sri Lanka [7.36 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Sri Lanka images 'prove damage' Sri Lanka warned on war crimes Tamils hunt for news of relatives |
| The agency says a ferry loaded with aid has been unable to reach the battered north-eastern coastal strip because of fighting. | The agency says a ferry loaded with aid has been unable to reach the battered north-eastern coastal strip because of fighting. |
| There are also reports that staff have quit the last hospital in the war zone. | There are also reports that staff have quit the last hospital in the war zone. |
| "Despite high-level assurances, the lack of security on the ground means that our sea operations continue to be stalled, and this is unacceptable," Mr Krahenbuhl said. | "Despite high-level assurances, the lack of security on the ground means that our sea operations continue to be stalled, and this is unacceptable," Mr Krahenbuhl said. |
| "People are left to their own devices." | "People are left to their own devices." |
| The ICRC says it requires security and unimpeded access to the area immediately. | The ICRC says it requires security and unimpeded access to the area immediately. |
| In a statement, it said another aid ship, from the World Food Programme, was also waiting to deliver supplies to the war zone. | In a statement, it said another aid ship, from the World Food Programme, was also waiting to deliver supplies to the war zone. |
| Hospital abandoned | Hospital abandoned |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Sri Lanka says there are unverified reports that medical staff have abandoned the main hospital in the rebel-held area because of persistent shelling. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Sri Lanka says there are unverified reports that medical staff have abandoned the main hospital in the rebel-held area because of persistent shelling. |
| One report said that about 400 badly wounded patients had been left behind, along with more than 100 bodies awaiting burial. | One report said that about 400 badly wounded patients had been left behind, along with more than 100 bodies awaiting burial. |
| The government and the rebels blame each other for civilian casualties | The government and the rebels blame each other for civilian casualties |
| Earlier on Thursday, a military spokesman told the BBC that unmanned aircraft had filmed more than 2,000 people wading across the lagoon which borders the fighting zone on the non-seaward side. | Earlier on Thursday, a military spokesman told the BBC that unmanned aircraft had filmed more than 2,000 people wading across the lagoon which borders the fighting zone on the non-seaward side. |
| Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the civilians had braved rebel fire to reach government-held areas. | Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the civilians had braved rebel fire to reach government-held areas. |
| "There is a large number of people crossing, and the (rebels) fired at them. Four people were killed, 14 were wounded," he said. | "There is a large number of people crossing, and the (rebels) fired at them. Four people were killed, 14 were wounded," he said. |
| The Sri Lankan army's version of events cannot be independently verified and there has been no comment from the rebels. | The Sri Lankan army's version of events cannot be independently verified and there has been no comment from the rebels. |
| The authorities and the rebels blame each other for civilian deaths. | The authorities and the rebels blame each other for civilian deaths. |
| As the fighting continued, Britain said on Thursday that it supported an early inquiry into whether war crimes have been committed in Sri Lanka. | As the fighting continued, Britain said on Thursday that it supported an early inquiry into whether war crimes have been committed in Sri Lanka. |
| "We would support an early investigation into all incidents that may have resulted in civilian casualties," said junior foreign minister Bill Rammell. | "We would support an early investigation into all incidents that may have resulted in civilian casualties," said junior foreign minister Bill Rammell. |
| He said the UN's estimate of more than 6,500 civilian deaths since January was - if accurate - "truly shocking and appalling". | He said the UN's estimate of more than 6,500 civilian deaths since January was - if accurate - "truly shocking and appalling". |
| Nearly 200,000 civilians are believed to be living in the government's overcrowded displacement camps. | Nearly 200,000 civilians are believed to be living in the government's overcrowded displacement camps. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Have you been affected by the fighting? Are you in a displacement camp? Have you seen people trying to flee the war zone? Send us your stories using the form below. | Have you been affected by the fighting? Are you in a displacement camp? Have you seen people trying to flee the war zone? Send us your stories using the form below. |
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