13:29, 14 May 2009 | GMT +5
Security Council voices ?grave? concern over Sri Lanka humanitarian crisis
UNITED NATIONS. May 14. KAZINFORM The Security Council today voiced its grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka and called for urgent action by all parties to ensure the safety of civilians, Kazinform refers to the UN News Centre.

Clashes between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) over the weekend led to the death of hundreds of civilians trapped in the conflict zone, a shrinking pocket of land on the northern coastline.
Heavy fighting is reportedly continuing in the area today, with heavy casualties, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
?Members of the Council strongly condemn the LTTE for its acts of terrorism over many years, and for its continued use of civilians as human shields and acknowledge the legitimate right of the Government of Sri Lanka to combat terrorism,? Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, which holds the 15-member body?s rotating presidency for May, said in a statement read out to the press following closed-door talks.
The Council also demanded that the LTTE lay down its arms and allow those still in the conflict zone to leave. The UN estimates that over 50,000 people remain in the conflict zone, while more than 196,000 people have managed to leave and crossed to Government-controlled areas.
At the same time, Council members ?express deep concern at the reports of continued use of heavy calibre weapons in areas with high concentrations of civilians, and expect the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitment in this regard.? It also called on the Government to take further steps to facilitate the evacuation of the trapped civilians and the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance, Kazinform cites the UN News Centre.