The Secretary-General and President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka spoke again today about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Vanni region and their shared concerns about the civilians still trapped in the area.

The President understood the Secretary-General's deep preoccupation with the fate and condition of the civilian population. They agreed to continue to work together urgently on ways forward in the coming days.

The Secretary-General reminds all concerned of their obligations to do all they can to protect civilians, and stresses that civilians should be allowed to leave the affected areas.