Aid worker killed in Sri Lanka

Geneva, March 18 (DPA) An aid worker was killed in the conflict area in northern Sri Lanka, the humanitarian organisation CARE International said Wednesday.

R. Sabesan, aged 24, worked for CARE and was hit in a shelling Tuesday in the so-called no-fire zone. He later died of his wounds as he was unable to access medical care, the aid group said.

'The toll this war is taking on civilians is devastating,' said Nick Osborne from CARE in a statement. 'Humanitarian workers trapped in the conflict zone are just as much at risk as anyone else.'

Hundreds of people have been reported killed this year in the conflict zone and access for aid agencies was extremely limited, leading to shortages of food and medical supplies.

'People need immediate access to medical care, food, and emergency supplies,' said Osbourne.

Some 150,000 people, including aid workers, are said to be trapped in the conflict area.

UN officials have slammed the actions of both the military and the Tamil Tiger rebels (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) for violations of human rights.