Day 15 in Mullivaikkal

On May 15, reports described the No Fire Zone as being engulfed in heavy bombardment, with escalating humanitarian warnings and continued international concern over access and protection of civilians.

TamilNet correspondents reported that the entire safety zone area was “in smoke” due to sustained artillery fire by the Sri Lankan military. A medical source stated that at least 800 bodies had been observed within the No Fire Zone, indicating extremely high civilian casualties amid ongoing shelling.

The Sri Lankan military, meanwhile, reported that approximately 6,000 civilians had crossed into government-controlled territory during this period, suggesting continued mass displacement from the conflict area.

Humanitarian organisations raised urgent alarms over the deteriorating situation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters in Geneva described the unfolding conditions as an “unimaginable humanitarian disaster.” An ICRC vessel attempting to reach the conflict zone was forced to turn back due to intense fighting. UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander expressed being “utterly appalled” at the inability of the ICRC to continue evacuation and medical operations, stating that denial of humanitarian access constituted a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Reports estimated that around 100,000 civilians remained trapped in the No Fire Zone under extremely severe conditions. According to the UN Panel of Experts, repeated attempts by ICRC ships to access the area failed due to ongoing hostilities. A volunteer doctor warned that without immediate external humanitarian intervention, a large-scale catastrophe was imminent, describing conditions of extreme deprivation, including lack of food, clean water, and medical care, with civilians sheltering among the dead and wounded.

At the international level, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng, issued a warning stating that individuals on all sides of the conflict could be held personally responsible for war crimes and other serious international crimes under international jurisdiction. The statement underscored growing concern that actions during the conflict could later be subject to international legal accountability.

TamilNet: 15.05.09 'Safety zone' in smoke, close-quarter fighting is on

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09COLOMBO533_a.html

TamilNet: 15.05.09 More than 100,000 civilians in safe zone, ICRC suspends Vanni missions

TamilNet: 16.05.09 UN genocide expert wants ceasefire, UN investigators want war probes