UN food convoy for northern Lanka turns back due to fighting

Dharam Shourie

United Nations, Oct 17 (PTI) A major U.N. food convoy
headed for northern Sri Lanka was forced to turn back because
of fresh fighting between government forces and Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) rebels in the restive region
and would try to reach there again after seeking security
assurances from the warring sides, the world body said.

The U.N. will seek renewed security assurances from both
the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers before attempting
to make the route Saturday morning, the world body's Resident
and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, said in
a statement.

The convoy – the second to be dispatched in as many weeks
– was heading for the northern Vanni area in a bid to reach an
estimated 230,000 civilians who have been displaced behind the
lines of confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and
Mullaitivu.

Comprising 50 trucks, the World Food Programme (W.F.P.)
convoy was carrying 750 tonnes of food when it left the town
of Vavuniya Thursday afternoon, and it was expected to reach
its destination by evening.

Intensified clashes between the military and L.T.T.E.
members in recent weeks have displaced tens of thousands of
people and sparked warnings from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
and other U.N. officials about the humanitarian impact on
civilians.

Earlier this month, at least 27 people were killed and
scores more were wounded in a suicide bomb attack on the
offices of one of Sri Lanka's opposition parties in the
north-central town of Anuradhapura.

A correspondent of Sirasa TV, Rashmi Mohamed, was among
the people killed in the attack, which was condemned by the
U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(U.N.E.S.C.O.). The agency's Director-General Koichiro
Matsuura described the attack as cowardly.

"In view of U.N.E.S.C.O.'s mandate regarding the
fundamental human right of freedom of expression and freedom
of speech, I must draw particular attention to the
unacceptable killing of journalist Rashmi Mohamed," he said.

"In doing so, I wish to honour journalists and other
media workers, who, when exercising their profession that
contributes to ensuring greater transparency, accountability
and participation in democratic processes, put their lives at
risk. It is essential that every possible step be taken to
improve the safety of journalists."