2.5 lakh trapped Tamils need protection: Red Cross

Colombo, Jan 29: Tamil population in northern Wanni region needs protection, opined Red Cross. Hundreds of Tamil people have been killed in the war between Sri Lankan troops and the LTTE and around 2.5 lakh Tamil civilians are trapped in the embattled city, Red Cross stated.

With the troops capturing major LTTE bastions of Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu, the intensity of fighting has intense in North region from past few weeks. The UN and rights groups have voiced concern over the humanitarian impact of the war. External Affairs Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee has said that efforts

should be made by the government to ensure safety of civilians. "Hundreds of people have been killed and scores of wounded are in understaffed and ill-equipped medical facilities in Sri Lanka's northern Wanni region, following intensified fighting between the Sri Lanka security forces and the LTTE," the Red Cross said.

"People are being caught in the crossfire, hospitals and ambulances have been hit by shelling and several aid workers have been injured while evacuating the wounded. The violence is preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross from operating in the region," Jacques de Maio, ICRC head of operations for South Asia, said in Geneva.

Around 250,000 people are trapped in a 250 sq-km area where fighting is obiqutious. Those people need protection, medical care and basic assitance, Red Cross said.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)