Geneva/Colombo (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) deplores the civilian casualties caused by an attack yesterday on a civilian bus in Ambalangoda, Ampara district, on Sri Lanka's east coast. Sixteen persons were killed, including 11 women and three children, and some two dozen others were injured in an explosion which was set off inside the bus.
"The ICRC is deeply concerned about the rising number of civilians being injured or killed as a result of deliberate attacks in Sri Lanka's escalating violence. In recent months, men, women and children taking no part whatever in the hostilities have been the victims of shells and bombs," said Toon Vandenhove, the ICRC's head of delegation in Colombo.
The ICRC urgently appeals to all parties to the conflict to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law and thus ensure that the civilian population and civilian objects are spared and protected at all times. This law prohibits direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects in all circumstances.
The ICRC is closely monitoring the situation. It stands ready to do whatever it can to protect and assist people not, or no longer, taking direct part in the hostilities.
For further information, please contact:
Vignati Davide, ICRC Colombo, tel. +94 11 2 503 346 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel. +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26