Civilians flee Sri Lankan war zone

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Play VideoObama scolds Sri Lankan unrest

The Sri Lankan President has vowed to end the government's decades-old conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels within 48 hours. Friday's announcement came as the military battled to take complete control of the rebel-held areas. Meanwhile, the situation in the country has gathered intense international concern.

Fleeing homes means at least you have a chance to have something to eat.

Surviving not only the conflict, but also starvation poses a huge threat to tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says fighting has forced it to temporarily halt evacuations and aid to those caught in the conflict area. Thousands of civilians lack food, drinking water and medical aid.

Marcal Izard, spokesman of Int'l Committee of The Red Cross, said, "The humanitarian situation is a catastrophe at this moment. They really lack everything."

The World Food Programme also complained their aid shipments were not reaching the conflict zone.

Emilia Casella, spokeswoman of World Food Programme, said, "A major shipment of food has not reached the conflict zone since the 1st of April. We have been able to get small portions in, which I've been talking about in previous press briefings, but really, that's only about 150 metric tons, which if you add that up, would feed maybe sixty thousand people for five days."

At least 18-hundred civilians managed to flee the fire zone on Friday, joining twice the number that waded across a river the day before.

As the Sri Lankan President promised to end the war in two days, it is hoped that more and more civilians will have access to necessities.