Two civilians were injured in the morning between 6:00 and 10:00 am. Immediately ICRC was informed about the attack on the hospital by the doctor Thurairajah Varatharajah, but in the evening the hospital came under heavy artillery attack again by the government forces and four more civilians were seriously injured.

The injured civilians continued to be treated in the same hospital while the shelling was continuing in the surrounds of the hospital till night.

A week ago on 8 January, three civilians were killed and eleven injured inside the Vaharai hospital complex where people had taken refuge from the Sri Lankan military artillery fire.
 
Sri Lanka: ICRC calls on warring parties to respect hospitals and civilians
Geneva/Colombo (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is increasingly alarmed by the hostilities, including shelling, in the Vakarai area, where a hospital is located around which thousands of civilians have gathered.

Under international humanitarian law, a hospital and its personnel exclusively assigned to medical purposes must be respected and protected in all circumstances and may not be the subject of attack. As long as the hospital is not used to commit hostile acts, such as launching military offensives or storing military equipment in its compound, the hospital must not be attacked. Civilians who have sought refuge in or near the hospital must – like any other civilians – be respected at all times, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.

The ICRC calls on both parties to respect the hospital's protected status and to spare both its personnel and civilians who have sought shelter in the area.

For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel: +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26