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More civilians fleeing conflicting area in Sri Lanka
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-22 11:06

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone face a "catastrophic" situation, the Red Cross said, amid fears a final assault against the Tamil Tiger rebels would lead to a dramatic rise in casualties.

The United Nations and others have called for a negotiated truce to allow civilians to leave the rebel-held coastal strip - and the government says more than 52,000 had escaped since Monday.

More civilians fleeing conflicting area in Sri Lanka

Injured civilians are seen in a make-shift hospital in this photograph released by the pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group "Mercy Mission to Vanni" April 20, 2009 showing what they say are wounded that were fleeing from an area still controlled by the LTTE in the "No Fire Zone" near the village of Putumatalan in Puthukkudiyirippu, northeastern Sri Lanka. [Agencies]

But it has refused to heed the international pleas to halt the fighting, saying Tuesday that it is on the verge of crushing the separatists and putting an end to the 25-year-old war.

The UN estimated more than 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months.

The rebels said more than 1,000 civilians died Monday in a government raid, while the government said it rescued thousands after they broke through a barrier built by the insurgents that protects their last stronghold.

Human rights groups say the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are holding many people in the enclave against their will and using them as human shields. Those groups have also accused the government of indiscriminate shelling in the region. Both sides deny the allegations.

Thousands of civilians also fled in packed small boats, and they were picked up by navy patrols and transported to camps where Tamils who have escaped the war are being held. More than 2,000 people in about 100 boats were picked up Monday.

The Red Cross said about 50,000 civilians were still stranded, while Human Rights Watch put the number between 50,000 and 100,000.

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