Save the Children instructed to withdraw from Tamil Tiger’s stronghold in Sri Lanka

Save the Children has been ordered to pull out of rebel-held areas of northern Sri Lanka.

(1 October 2008) Earlier this month international aid agencies were given three weeks notice by the Sri Lankan government to withdraw their operations in the northern areas held by Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels. As fighting intensifies, the government said it could no longer guarantee the safety of aid workers based there.

Save the Children has now been forced to stop its operations and withdraw staff based in its Kilinochchi Office. Staff has now been evacuated and it is unclear when they will be able to return.

More than 160,000 people have been forced to flee the fighting in the area, leaving crops to rot in the fields and disrupting livelihoods and the education of tens of thousands of children.

"There are more than 30,000 children who have been deprived an education due to displacement over the past few weeks,” said Senait Gebregziabher, country director of Save the Children in Sri Lanka. "The trauma of war poses a huge threat to their wellbeing."

Right up until the deadline to leave, Save the Children ran a relief operation providing food, basic temporary shelter materials and children’s clothes. Save the Children also provided safe play areas and support for children recruited and released by the Tamil Tigers. Save the Children was able to stop many children being recruited to fight for the Tamil Tigers, but the organisation fears that without staff on the ground children could again be forced to work for the rebels.

Although the area is extremely insecure and communication is restricted, Save the Children is trying to regain access and help displaced children and their families. Save the Children urges the Government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE, and the international community to take immediate and lasting measures to protect children caught up in this ongoing conflict.