The Ministry of Defence has taken measures to establish a "Safe Corridor" for the civilians who are seeking protection of the security forces in cleared areas in Vavuniya.

"The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to further develop Vavuniya as a storage and logistic hub for humanitarian assistance including food and non-food items. The ongoing efforts of the Government in this connection are been complemented by international partners who have also commenced stockpiling food and humanitarian supplies for civilians escaping from or displaced by the armed conflict," the Ministry of Human Rights said in a statement issued yesterday.

Work has commenced on the upgrading of a garment factory in close proximity to the current Vavuniya logistic hub for both inter-agency storage and office facilities. Civilians who escape to Vavuniya will thus be able to access the full gamut of humanitarian assistance that the Government, supplemented by its international partners, is providing said Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe.

He said that the Government was appreciative of the efforts of the UN agencies, International and local non-government organizations in supplementing the Government's initiative in caring for conflict affected communities in the entirety of the North, especially those persons displaced by the conflict.

The Minister called on all relevant parties to ensure that civilians are allowed to use the safe humanitarian corridor and assist them to travel to secure areas without any hindrance.

Minister Samarasinghe said that he would ensure all necessary facilitation and coordination among the Government, the donor community, UN and other international agencies and organizations, in the provision of humanitarian assistance and relief to civilians in the North through the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA).