135,000 people flee fighting in Sri Lanka
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Aug 16, IRNA
Sri Lanka-Fighting-UN
In the midst of renewed fighting between Sri Lanka government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels since April, more than 135,000 people have fled the island country while the violence continues to escalate in the region.
The figure included about 50,000 persons displaced by the upsurge in violence in the northeastern district of Trincomalee, sources said here quoting spokeswoman for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Jennifer Pagonis.
"Continued heavy fighting in the north and east of Sri Lanka has sent several thousand more civilians fleeing their homes in the last few days," said Jennifer.
Many of them have not been able to move far away from the fighting, however, while access to aid was a problem, according to the UNHCR.
"Thousands of families are still trapped on the islands off Jaffna Peninsula and are unable to move freely," Pagonis added.
The overall tally since April included 6,672 Sri Lankan refugees who have fled to India.
2160/1430/2322/1412
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
