Red Cross told to leave Sri Lanka conflict zone

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.