InfoAnda - UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Groups urge Medvedev: bring rule of law to Chechnya | | 21 April 2011
Scandal-hit Japan politician refuses to leave party | 11 February 2011
Putin says to push military ties with China | | 6 June 2012

Eurozone inflation sharply up to 1.5% | 31 March 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka AFP - 2 hours 11 minutes ago COLOMBO (AFP) - - The United Nations sent its top humanitarian official to Sri Lanka Saturday to secure the safety of up to 50,000 civilians trapped in fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. ADVERTISEMENT The dispatch of Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes on a three-day mission coincided with a White House call for an immediate ceasefire and a strong statement of concern from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations. "The top priority remains the preservation of the lives of the tens of thousands of civilians still trapped inside the combat zone," Holmes said in a statement released ahead of his arrival here. The United Nations believes up to 50,000 non-combatants are still trapped in the tiny sliver of jungle where the Sri Lankan military has surrounded the remnants of the once powerful Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) army. Around 100,000 civilians have already managed to escape the area, and Holmes said he also wanted to inspect the government-run camps where critics say the refugees are being held in prison-like conditions. The UN says dozens of its local Tamil employees are also detained in the camps and wants them freed together with their families. The plight and suffering of those caught in the fighting prompted US President Barack Obama's administration on Friday to urge an end to hostilities. "We call on both sides to stop fighting immediately and allow civilians to safely leave the combat zone," the White House said in a statement. The Sri Lankan government has so far resisted all calls to halt an offensive that is now on the brink of wiping out the LTTE who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1972. The Tigers, once one of the most feared guerrilla organisations in the world, have seen their territory shrink to a coastal area measuring just 10 square kilometres (about four square miles). The White House specifically demanded an end to any military shelling in a designated "safe zone" and access for aid groups and journalists to civilians who have escaped. A British surgeon working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Paul McMasters, said his team in a state-run hospital near the conflict zone had been overwhelmed by the influx of injured civilians. "Its so crowded that the nurses cannot physically walk around," he said, estimating the number of patients in a 45-bed ward at around 320. "There are simply too many people to treat them all. We are not able to save some people because we need to provide more aftercare," he said, adding: "There are simply not enough nurses." The LTTE issued their own call for foreign intervention, warning that the civilians under their control were facing "imminent" starvation. Sri Lanka's military success has come at a huge human cost, rights groups say, with the UN estimating as many as 6,500 non-combatants may have been killed and another 14,000 wounded in the fighting so far this year. Independent verification of casualty figures is almost impossible as journalists have long been barred from the island's north, except when under strict supervision on trips organised by the military. The Sri Lankan government has been blocking most aid agencies from working in the war-torn north for months, and accuses UN agencies and NGOs of supporting the Tamil Tigers. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka's Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe welcomed the visit by Holmes, his second in as many months. "We hope to have a constructive discussion with him," Samarasinghe said. A French medical team was expected in Colombo Saturday to prepare the ground for a 100-bed field hospital to treat war victims. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article 0 users recommend Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Asia Pacific NKorea says it has restarted nuclear facilitiesAP - 47 minutes ago Thai protesters hold first rally since crackdownAP - 1 hour 5 minutes ago Thai protesters hold new rally in BangkokAFP - 2 hours 3 minutes ago India says Pakistan helped Kashmir rebelsAP - 2 hours 9 minutes ago UN humanitarian chief to press Sri LankaAFP - 2 hours 11 minutes ago Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Charred meat linked to pancreatic cancer risk Downturn hits Elton John, Paul McCartney Albino buffalo a first for Kenya Fertility doctor on brink of cloning human: report Ford sees light at end of tunnel View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Saturday, 25 April 2009
U.S. weighs Zimbabwe reform pace, no aid yet | International |
Poor countries pushed into danger zone: World Bank | International |
U.N. council to Sri Lanka: Let U.N. into conflict zone | International |
Two die in new violence in Madagascar capital: reports | International |
NATO extends anti-piracy mission off Somalia | International |
Conficker virus begins to attack PCs: experts | Technology |
Facebook surfing while sick costs Swiss woman job | Technology |
Blagojevich still hopes for a part in TV show | Entertainment |
Meryl Streep to be honored at Rome film festival | Entertainment |
Cyndi Lauper shares screen with husband | Entertainment |
Cocteau memorabilia up for auction in Paris | Entertainment |
Beyonce says definitely wants Broadway role | Entertainment |
Clinton makes surprise visit to Iraq
Female suicide attackers kill 58 near Baghdad shrine
U.N. council to Sri Lanka: Let U.N. into conflict zone | International |
60 killed in double bombing at Iraqi shrine
US stars rake in funds for fight on malaria
India presses for Sri Lanka truce as casualties rise | International |
Sixty die in Iraq shrine attack
Chrysler reaches agreement with Canada union workers
Canadian soldier found dead in Afghanistan
Group of Seven sees crisis begin to unwind by year-end
Baghdad shrine attack kills 55
Economic activity to pick up this year: G7
Major attacks in Iraq since Jan. 1
'Gaps' remain as G8-led climate talks move towards global pact
Ford sees light at end of tunnel
Tsunami aid often bypassed conflict victims: report | International |
Albino buffalo a first for Kenya
U.N. committee puts 3 North Korea firms on blacklist | International |
New momentum for global climate pact despite 'gaps'
Gore pleads for unity on climate, despite divide
'Gaps' remain as G8-led climate talks move towards global pact
Dalai Lama: Economic crisis teaches money's limits
Concern grows in Mexico, US over killer flu
Murder brings scrutiny to fast-growing Craigslist
Microsoft to release version of Windows 7 next week | Technology |
Northern Mariana Islands official convicted
Twitter a global sensation: Hitwise
Lost laptops cost companies dearly: study
Plane diverted to Boston after man rushes cockpit
Cell phone vital, air conditioning not so much | Technology |
Latin American banks look to mobiles to battle crisis
Murder brings scrutiny to fast-growing Craigslist | Technology |
US military told torture yields 'unreliable' info
Cell phone vital, air conditioning not so much
DVD software backups challenged in U.S. court | Technology |
EU's Barroso says he has Sarkozy's support to stay
NYC Heath Department: 75 kids sickened at 1 school
Facebook democracy debuts to low voter turnout
NYC house explosion shakes block; 1 dead, 6 hurt
Medvedev sacks military intelligence chief
Former Facebook executive named MySpace CEO
Penniless German couple abandoned their children
Finance leaders want cooperation to end recession
Finland allocates new 4G mobile frequencies
Estonia plans broadband for all by 2015: report
BULLETIN KILL
Facebook surfing while sick costs Swiss woman job
Lost laptops cost companies dearly: study
Bus-truck crash in China's southwest kills 18
Wounded Thai protest leader discharged
UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka on civilians
Chronology of NKorea's nuclear, missile programs
Simon Cowell to Susan Boyle: Get yourself together | Entertainment |
Taliban withdraw from Pakistan's Buner: officials
Fox faces uncertainty over fate of Idol judges | Entertainment |
US aid threatened by missile range row: ambassador
Taiwan envoy heads to China for talks
NKorea restarts nuclear programme
Thai 'Yellow Shirt' protest founder leaves hospital
HK university students oust union president
Forbes names Madonna Hollywood's hardest working mom
Japanese banks Shinsei, Aozora in merger talks
Forbes names Madonna Hollywood's hardest working mom | Entertainment |
MSFG wins priority in talks to buy Nikko
Pakistani c.bank buys 32.75 bln rupees of T-bills
China bans foreign firms from express mail market
Reports: Sumitomo likely to buy Japan Citigroup
'Quiet' Copenhagen cracks down on deadly gang war
China Construction Bank 1Q profit down 18 percent
Torrent of bitterness on the Turkey-Armenia border
G7 hails China's crisis actions, pledges support
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China buys half interest in Kazakh energy company
"Gossip Girl" star Meester signs record deal
World finance chiefs discuss crisis amid recovery signs
'Lost' actor and ABC face sex harassment claim
Toshiba says to cut British jobs, focus on Poland
Late night TV host Jay Leno released from hospital | Entertainment |
Rihanna seeking return of pricey jewelry
Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp to tour | Entertainment |
'Secret' Stone lawsuit was routine fees matter
Rob Thomas readies new album | Entertainment |
Nas says Grammy nod shows he's on right track
Page Not Found |
Simon Cowell to Susan Boyle: "Get yourself together"
Americans battle their bulge on TV dance show | Entertainment |
Fox faces uncertainty over fate of "Idol" judges
DVD software backups challenged in U.S. court | Entertainment |
Iran hits at U.S., Clinton sees progress in Iraq | International |
3 arrested in Lebanon on Israel spy charges
North Korea begins extracting plutonium | International |
Triple suicide attack kills five Afghan police
Flux in Pakistani valley after Taliban retreat | International |
Toyota's Trulli on pole for Bahrain Grand Prix
5 Palestinians injured in West Bank clash
South Africa's ANC wins huge poll victory | International |
Turkey objects to Obama's view of Armenian killings | International |
No going back on Zimbabwe unity government: Tsvangirai | International |
India says Pakistan still aiding Kashmir rebels | International |
U.N. dispatches top humanitarian to Sri Lanka | International |
Thaksin red shirts gather again in Bangkok | International |
Drilling drives a wedge at climate change summit
Somali pirates seize German vessel, crew unhurt | International |
Protesters, police clash near IMF meetings in DC
WHO chief calls swine flu outbreak 'serious'
Obama: Give me ideas on tightening federal belt
Quotes from Obama's first 100 days
Key events in Obama's first 100 days
100 days of Obama: Energy aplenty, no miracles
A glance at states covered by Voting Rights Act
High court test for voting rights in Texas case
Independent streak flashed by newest Democrats
Clinton says US will back Iraq after troop pullout
Thai protesters hold new rally in Bangkok
India says Pakistan helped Kashmir rebels
Fear a high school reunion? Hire a stripper | Entertainment |
UN humanitarian chief to press Sri Lanka
Thaksin "red shirts" gather again in Bangkok
Asia protests, Beijing quiet on Falungong anniversary
India says Pakistan still aiding Kashmir rebels
A look at North Korea's nuclear program
Profit at top Chinese state firms down 42 percent
Asia takes precautions after swine flu outbreak
North Korea begins extracting plutonium
Newspaper columnist takes stage in The Soloist | Entertainment |
UN humanitarian chief: Sri Lanka situation 'dire'
Fear a high school reunion? Hire a stripper
Newspaper columnist takes stage in "The Soloist"
Guests for the Sunday TV news shows
Rob Thomas readies new album
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01