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Aid reaches trapped Sri Lankans | Aid reaches trapped Sri Lankans |
(10 minutes later) | |
Aid destined for thousands of people cut off by heavy fighting in eastern Sri Lanka has finally begun to arrive. | Aid destined for thousands of people cut off by heavy fighting in eastern Sri Lanka has finally begun to arrive. |
About 60 lorries have reached the town of Vaharai with supplies, officials say. Aid agencies have been trying to get through for the past month. | |
The convoy had to turn back on Tuesday because of shelling between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. | The convoy had to turn back on Tuesday because of shelling between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. |
Each side blames the other for the fighting, which has left about 30,000 people in desperate need of help. | Each side blames the other for the fighting, which has left about 30,000 people in desperate need of help. |
'Desperate' | 'Desperate' |
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says Vaharai was cut off after fighting escalated in the eastern district of Batticaloa last month. | The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says Vaharai was cut off after fighting escalated in the eastern district of Batticaloa last month. |
Thousands of displaced people are taking refuge in schools and makeshift camps. | Thousands of displaced people are taking refuge in schools and makeshift camps. |
Sri Lanka's year of misery Sri Lanka talks failure | Sri Lanka's year of misery Sri Lanka talks failure |
The UN says that the situation is "desperate", with many people not receiving any help since the end of October. | The UN says that the situation is "desperate", with many people not receiving any help since the end of October. |
After weeks of negotiations, both the government and Tamil Tiger rebels had agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday. | After weeks of negotiations, both the government and Tamil Tiger rebels had agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday. |
A convoy of 100 trucks was to go in packed with food, medicine and fuel for the next month. | A convoy of 100 trucks was to go in packed with food, medicine and fuel for the next month. |
However after heavy fighting on Tuesday, the convoy was forced to stop and turn back. | However after heavy fighting on Tuesday, the convoy was forced to stop and turn back. |
The UN spokesperson, Orla Clinton, said that the people of Vaharai are trapped because of the fighting, and agencies need sustained and continuous access to help them. | The UN spokesperson, Orla Clinton, said that the people of Vaharai are trapped because of the fighting, and agencies need sustained and continuous access to help them. |
Widening gulf | Widening gulf |
Tuesday's clashes came a day after rebel leader Prabhakaran said Tamils had "no option" but to push for an independent state. | Tuesday's clashes came a day after rebel leader Prabhakaran said Tamils had "no option" but to push for an independent state. |
On Tuesday, the government asked Norwegian mediators to clarify whether the island's peace process still exists after the Tiger leader said it was "defunct". | On Tuesday, the government asked Norwegian mediators to clarify whether the island's peace process still exists after the Tiger leader said it was "defunct". |
Commentators say that the current monsoon may give the rebels a military advantage over the army, because they are not so reliant on heavy artillery and armour which is harder to move in the rain. | Commentators say that the current monsoon may give the rebels a military advantage over the army, because they are not so reliant on heavy artillery and armour which is harder to move in the rain. |
Correspondents say that the fact that Prabhakaran's speech was totally ignored by Sri Lanka's government-owned newspapers is a sign of the widening gulf between the two sides. | Correspondents say that the fact that Prabhakaran's speech was totally ignored by Sri Lanka's government-owned newspapers is a sign of the widening gulf between the two sides. |
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