Fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government started in the 1980s. A 2002 ceasefire began to collapse in 2005, and in early 2008 the government withdrew from the agreement.

In 2008, the conflict intensified in the LTTE-controlled areas of northern Sri Lanka, known as the Vanni. Under the 2002 ceasefire agreement, the Vanni covers parts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochi and Mullaitivu. The ICRC, which has been on the island continuously since 1989, continues to work in the Vanni with the agreement of both parties to the conflict.

The ICRC has helped thousands of people who have fled the fighting, providing them with basic necessities, shelter, water and sanitation.

At Omanthai, the only crossing point between LTTE and government areas, the ICRC is enabling people, ambulances, food convoys and other vehicles to cross safely and is facilitating the return of bodies of fighters from both sides to their families.

The ICRC is visiting people detained by both sides in relation to the conflict, verifying treatment and conditions of detention, providing essential items and conveying family news between detainees and their families.

The organization is monitoring compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and takes up alleged breaches of IHL with the party concerned, emphasizing that the law requires all parties to refrain from harming civilians, allow them to receive aid and enable humanitarian agencies to work in safety.
In parallel, the ICRC is promoting IHL to a wide range of arms bearers and civilian groups.

Finally, the ICRC is providing support for the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society’s work on restoring family links and promoting the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Presence (2008): 589 staff including 69 expatriates