Geneva - The Sri Lankan authorities have told the
International Committee of the Red Cross to scale down its operations
in the country and the humanitarian organization said Thursday it
will begin to close offices.
The first stages of the shutdown will be in the Eastern provinces,
a short statement released by the ICRC said. That area saw heavy
fighting earlier this year and includes towns to where uprooted
civilians are eventually supposed to return.
The government has pledged that most would be able to go home this
year. Currently, nearly 300,000 displaced people from the Tamil
minority are being held in what Red Cross officials have said are
government-run internment camps.
Officials with the ICRC said they already only have limited and
irregular access to the camps in the eastern areas.
'The ICRC reaffirms its commitment to address the humanitarian
needs of those directly or indirectly affected by the recent
conflict, including displaced people and returnees,' the statement
read, implying that it was wrapping up its operations in the area
much earlier than it wanted.
'However, the ICRC will continue its dialogue with the Sri Lankan
government on issues of humanitarian concern,' the statement said.
The organization has had a permanent presence in Sri Lanka since
1989.
Following over 25 years of civil war, the government defeated the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May. Human rights groups have
said both sides to the conflict committed grave abuses and have
called for international investigations.
The United Nations estimates that at least 80,000 people were
killed since the 1980s, of which 8,000 or more died in the last
intense months of fighting over a small enclave- the last rebel
holdout- which was packed with civilians.
Aid agencies say their ability to offer humanitarian assistance
has been hindered over the last few years.
The Sri Lankan diplomatic mission to Geneva was not immediately
available for comment on the ICRC statement.
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