By DPA
Colombo : The movement of civilians between government and rebel controlled areas in northern Sri Lanka came to a standstill after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) withdrew amid ongoing clashes, reports said Wednesday.
The ICRC announced it was pulling out its members from checkpoints at Omanthai and Uyliankulam, more than 250 km north of here, as a temporary measure in view of the security situation.
There has been an exchange of mortar and artillery fire between government forces and rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) over the last two weeks.
An estimated 5,000 civilians use the checkpoints to cross to and from the rebel controlled Wanni district into the government controlled areas.
The closure of the crossing points will severely affect the movement of civilians.
The ICRC said although it had withdrawn its members from the two crossing points, it would continue to facilitate the transportation of the sick.
The ICRC has been present at the two points since 2002 to facilitate the movement of civilians between the 'cleared' and 'uncleared' areas.