Sri Lanka: 200,000 internally displaced, 50,000 caught up in war zone

"This is a humanitarian crisis of huge proportion. Over the last week, at least 20 people have died due to starvation and lack of medication. What's making matters worse is that there are no morgue or transport facilities- dead bodies are just lying under trees. There's also a lack of water, as Vavunia - a naturally water-scarce area - is facing growing shortages as a result of the surrounding jungle being cut down to house displaced people." reports Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, Country Director for Muslim Aid Sri Lanka Field Office.

Since February 2008, fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LLTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers) and the Sri Lankan government has reached a climax leaving 200,000 people stranded in refugee camps as they attempt to flee the fighting. It is believed that some 50,000 people are still caught up in the war zone. Read more ...