UN urges "humanitarian pause" in Sri Lanka

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-28-2009 10:26

The UN humanitarian chief, John Holmes, has asked Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a "humanitarian pause" in fighting with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes (L) shakes hands with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa before their meeting in Colombo April 27, 2009.  REUTERS/Sri Lankan Government/Handout

He says this would allow trapped civilians to escape or at least emerge from their bunkers to forage for food.

The UN humanitarian chief met the Sri Lankan President in Colombo on Monday.

Holmes said humanitarian organizations are dealing with "two crises simultaneously". One is trying to free those people still trapped in the war zone, and another "dealing physically with all the people who got out about a week ago".

Sri Lanka agreed to stop firing heavy weapons into the northern war zone to safeguard thousands of civilians trapped there.