Civilian casualties in renewed hostilities between government forces and the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka have been very high. Since mid-April, some 500 civilians have died. The European Union is to fund a medical aid project to help several thousand people blockaded on the island of Jaffna as a result of the fighting.

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) is making available a grant of 305,000 ECU for a six-month action with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The grant will pay for medical supplies and medicines for patients at the University Hospital in Jaffna.