Bonn, 15th January 2008. Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action) fears a significant increase in the number of refugees in northern Sri Lanka in the next few weeks. At the beginning of January, the government in Colombo unilaterally withdrew the ceasefire before it had officially expired. The truce, signed in 2002 by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil rebel movement LTTE with the support of Norwegian peace brokers, will end tomorrow, Wednesday, 16th January 2008.

The civil war that continues in the country for 25 years has so far claimed the lives of around 70,000 people, and thousands still live in refugee camps. "The withdrawal of the ceasefire is sending the wrong signal," Dirk Altweck, Welthungerhilfe's Regional Director in Colombo, criticises the government's decision. "We fear an escalation of military action and therefore new refugees."

Fighting in the north of the country has been intensifying for months. In the so-called "Vanni", the only connected, LTTE-controlled region, civilians have few ways to escape the war. The region is cut off and currently only accessible through one checkpoint. "People flee from one place to the next to escape the government's bombings and repression by the LTTE," reports Altweck.

Our Regional Director, Dirk Altweck, is available for interviews on request. He is currently touring northern Sri Lanka.

Welthungerhilfe has been active in Sri Lanka since 1972. Since then, the relief organisation has carried out projects worth 50 million Euro. Ten projects with a budget of over 10 million Euro are being implemented this year. These measures focus above all on the care of refugees. Over 12,000 families are currently being supported. Welthungerhilfe works in Sri Lanka with a partner organisation and employs 6 expatriate staff.

For further information visit: www.welthungerhilfe.de