The United Nation´s Resident representative in Sri Lanka requested that all civilians who want to move out of the non-liberated areas in the North should be allowed to move out without any hindrance.

"Any displaced person is entitled to freedom of movement according to international principles; they can move where and when they want, in search of safety and assistance," Neil Buhne, the UN Resident representative said in a public statement.

The statement followed after a Ministry of Defense statement that it had taken swift measures to establish a humanitarian corridor so that civilians trapped in the area controlled by LTTE can escape to safe ground.

Earlier there had been allegations by the Amnesty International and other Tamil leaders that the LTTE had driven civilians to the war prone areas in the North so that they could be used as a human shield.

The United Nations office said, The UN has been providing supplies to the displaced in the Wanni, accessible only through the Omanthai Entry/Exit point, 50km south of Kilinochchi.

In Kilinochchi, 2,000 war displaced families have sought shelter in seven school buildings in the district.

The District Secretary has informed the Resettlement Ministry that these people would be relocated as the new school term begins today (Sept. 04^th). 

In Colombo, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the government wanted ´zero casualties´ on civilians in its quest to liberate the north.