The International community – United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, International Committee of the Red Cross and human rights NGOs have expressed their concerns over the current rising situation of internally displaced people in Sri Lanka.
The new wave of internally displaced people of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-held territories especially in eastern Sri Lanka is certain to deteriorate particularly with aid agencies forced to leave the northern base Kilinochchi.
They pulled out of the area when the Sri Lankan government told them last week that it could not guarantee their security at a time when the Sri Lankan army is advancing further north with the aim of 'eliminating' LTTE.
The government has allowed ICRC to remain in the areas while UN pull out was delayed due to protest by the IDPs concerned over their fate once the international community is evacuated from the area.
The government did drop leaflets asking the locals to leave the place but it has been accused of indiscriminate bombing by LTTE.
On the other hand, the LTTE is accused of barring them to go for safer places.
On 2 September, UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss said thousands of civilians who remain trapped in Wanni were being prevented from moving into areas they prefer which was a cause of much concern.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban expressed concern over escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka and the humanitarian consequences for civilians. The Sri Lankan government dismissed Ban's concern.
The flow of IDPs especially Tamils to Colombo is making the government edgy about security of the city.
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the defense secretary and brother of the Sri Lankan PM made public his preference that people including the Tamils arriving from war-torn north and east should go back to their villages if they do not have any valid reason to remain.
He expressed that LTTE members in guise of civilians come to Colombo and integrate with local Tamil community creating threat for security.
For Tamils living in Colombo, police raid, harassment, arbitrary detention and abductions have become part of life.
The government threat materialised when thousands of Tamil people arriving in the capital from war-torn northern and eastern part of the country in the last five years were asked to register with the police.
People followed the call and queued in schools and temples to get their names registered.
Sri Lankan government has said in public that it wants to help the displaced people. While accusing the rebels of barring them from leaving to safer areas, the government has begun some consultations with humanitarian organisations including UN and INGOs to find out a way to ensure relief materials to IDPs.
First week of October saw a UN food convoy arriving in Wanni region whence the humanitarian agencies were ordered out. But, the government should make sure that the convoy is provided with required security as asked by the UN and that such missions will not be disrupted in future.
Humanitarian agencies have put the number of displaced due to this conflict between 135,000 and 250,000.
The Sri Lankan Army began the offensive in 2006 after the ceasefire was broken by the LTTE in 2002.
Nearly 30 years of conflict has claimed nearly 70,000 lives. Now, the government is claiming to have gained ground in rebel dominated parts and hopes to crush the LTTE forever in few months.
It is difficult to say whether LTTE will face a final blow, whether peace will be restored in Sri Lanka soon as claimed by the government but meanwhile the civilians continue to go through fear and trauma of displacement.
