UN humanitarian chief condemns targeting of civilians in attacks in Sri Lanka

New York, 29 May 2008: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes today condemned the continuing targeting of civilians in Sri Lanka.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 200 civilian lives have been lost in bombings in Sri Lanka. Attacks have targeted mass transport facilities and busy public areas in both the immediate conflict areas and population centres.

'The targeting of non-combatants is a contravention of International Humanitarian Law, for which those responsible must be held accountable,' Mr. Holmes said. 'This despicable behaviour must stop,' he added.

This week alone, more than 20 civilians were killed and several dozens injured in different violent incidents. The attacks include the firing of artillery shells into a populated area in the Jaffna peninsula early on Wednesday, which left six civilians dead and a dozen or more injured.

On Monday, nine people died and 73 were injured when a bomb exploded on a busy commuter train in Dehiwela, a suburb of Colombo. Last weekend, two other bombs were discovered and defused before they exploded. Three days earlier a roadside bomb killed 17 civilians on a main road used to access displaced populations in the Kilinochchi district.

For further information, please call:

Stephanie Bunker,
OCHA-New York,
+1 917 367 5126,
mobile +1 917 892 1679;

John Nyaga,
OCHA-NY,
+ 1 917 367 9262;

Elisabeth Byrs,
OCHA-Geneva,
+41 22 917 2653,
mobile, +41 79 473 4570.