United Nations agencies in Sri Lanka have said they are unable to advise civilians to vacate LTTE-controlled areas despite a government request to this effect.
Heavy fighting in the Wanni has forced thousands of civilians to move deeper into guerrilla-dominated areas.
“UN officials are in the area only to ensure humanitarian assistance to those in need,” UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss told The Sunday Times adding that they were not there to advise the people on which direction they should move.
“Any person has the freedom of movement, and they can move where and when they want in search of safety and assistance,” Mr. Weiss said. “It is difficult to persuade people to leave their homes, taking whatever they own and head for a place that will be alien to them,” he said.
Last week the Government called on the INGOs based in the Wanni to persuade the LTTE to allow civilians to leave for Government-controlled areas without imposing restrictions on them, following reports that the separatists were holding on to the people and using them as human shields.
“Convincing the civilians on the direction they should take is up to the relevant authorities or the parties to the conflict,” Mr. Weiss said. He confirmed that civilians were moving in large numbers deeper behind LTTE lines as the security forces continue to close in from several fronts.
Mr. Weiss said the UN agencies had no immediate plans for leaving the area, as their presence was more important at this juncture when the situation was becoming grave. However, he said they were apprehensive of the security situation.Meanwhile the Government is drawing up a contingency plan to accept civilians fleeing the LTTE areas.
“This however will take some time since several issues have to be looked into. We must see whether the routes have been fully demined before they could be declared safe passages,” Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
However, he said that the displaced people could use the A-9 road and reach Omanthai and there on to other government-controlled areas where they would be given the fullest security and humanitarian assistance.
Last week a vehicle belonging to Forut, an INGO, was damaged as it got caught in an unexplained blast 20 kilometres south of Vavuniya while it was heading to the conflict zone in the Wanni. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries in the incident.FORUT spokesperson Antoinette Ludowyk told The Sunday Times that the incident had not changed their plans and that their humanitarian work was continuing in the area with the assistance of the authorities.
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