Sri Lanka fighting traps civilians in no-fire zone /* AlJazeera English*/

Thousands of civilians remain trapped in fighting between Sri Lanka's military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Many civilians fleeing a northern no-fire zone have sought refuge at a temporary field hospital.

But as Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports, the makeshift facility lacks many of the things that might qualify it as a temporary field hospital, including blood reserves, antibiotics and essential medical items.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday that between 50,000 and 100,000 people remain stranded in the "no-fire zone".

Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director, said: "Both sides need to show far greater concern for civilians, or many more civilians will die."

However, Lakshiman Hulugalle, a defence ministry spokesman, said that the government could cater for the refugees.

"We have been looking after more than 70,000 refugees for the last couple of months,' he said.

"Their welfare is being looked after. Once their registration is done, their basic needs are being looked into."

The UN has repeatedly accused the military of shelling the "no-fire" zone, and the LTTE of preventing civilians from leaving, in effect using them as human shields.

Both sides reject the claims.

The UN says at least 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months of heavy fighting and another 12,000 injured.

The military's final operation to crush the LTTE set off protests by expatriate Tamils in London and Paris, the latest in weeks of demonstrations against the offensive in cities across the world.

In Paris, around 180 people were arrested and four injured after protesters blocked an intersection and threw objects at buses and police, French authorities said.

Source AlJazeera English

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[delecz]

The blood of these people are clearly on the hands of the media (like this). All LTTE supporters (INGO's, most westerners) are trying to extend this hostage situation without letting the army intervene. The army rescued 40,000 civilians yesterday alone. What have the others done to at least support this even by word? NONE! All they want is now to hold a ceasefire to suffocate the civilians and let the terrorists survive the final assault. Shame on you all terrorist supporters.

[chetanfromvancouver]

Even if the content of the video is recent and true, the best solution is for the LTTE to surrender. Then these trapped civilians can get the help they need.

[kawasaki81378]

blame on LTTE fuckers

[covariancee]

cut praba into pieces and and dump his parts infront of those protesters who protest for a tamil eelam. The they will realize it is useless to protest any more

[BORUKOTIYA]

this vidio saw that these civilian are not the people who live there for centuries as some LTTE reps talking.these people are used as human ceals one can c clealy.they only have couple of bags with them.well the picture saws u.I ask the sri lankan gov to make a note of all these protesters who hold terrorist flag and shout slogans to be detain when come to sri lanka and arrest them in connection with terrorism act.

[Bravelion001]

French police arrested 210 people on Monday as a demonstration in central Paris by Tamils angry at the situation in Sri Lanka turned violent.

[nuwani4]

These are fake videos. LTTE don't look after civillians. Ask the red cross, they bring sick civillians to government controlled area.

[tigernov6]

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

2:25 Prove what you say. I don't think that the President said such a thing.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★