The United Nations expects to assist Sri Lankan Tamil civilians fleeing the LTTE to safety and the United Nations Secretary-General is doing his utmost to alleviate the situation in Sri Lanka.

So said Mr. Farhan Haq, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General at the daily press briefing on Thursday (16).

He said that high-level contacts are continuing between the UN and Sri Lanka on assisting these civilians, and that Mr. Vijay Nambiar Chef de Cabinet of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Sri Lanka for this purpose.

The LTTE did not appear to have responded constructively in allowing civilians to leave. This is truly disappointing; Civilians must be allowed to leave the area of violence. They must not be used as targets of political or military designs, Mr. Farhan Haq added that.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 64,000 people have crossed from conflict areas. Some 63,000 of them are accommodated in various camps, while 800 displaced persons are in hospitals in various districts. UN spokesman added.

A Spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights said that the 64,000 plus civilians referred to are those who have crossed to the Safety Zone provided by the government outside the No Fire Zone in Mullativu. The Displaced Persons in hospitals referred to are those transported by the government with the assistance of the ICRC.