Children increasingly at risk as fighting continues. Save the Children warns of crisis in Sri Lanka

Save the Children today warns of a humanitarian crisis as fighting continues in eastern Sri Lanka. Save the Children continue to scale up their relief effort as violence in the area surrounding Muttur, near Trincomalee, escalated Sunday evening and Monday morning after a brief lull.

It is estimated that over 20,000 people have moved to Kantale in the Trincomalee district after leaving their homes due to the fighting in Muttur. Over the last two days Save the Children have supplied non food items including sleeping mats, sheets, towels and hygiene kits, kitchen utensils and some children's clothes to over 1,200 families.

Save the Children's Child Protection Advisor is in the district helping children who have been separated from their families during the exodus.

Richard Mawer, Save the Children Programme Director in Sri Lanka says “Fighting has become more severe and moved into heavily populated areas over the last few days, causing families and children to flee their homes to escape rockets and artillery fire. This is a humanitarian crisis and we are concerned for the children who have been caught up in the fighting.”

He also noted with grave concern the killing of 15 national staff of the international humanitarian organization Action Contra la Faim in Muttur. “These killings send a clear message that humanitarian space and ability to work is under threat, and this is especially worrying given the escalation in violence and the potential for ever greater violence given this breakdown.”