The Sri Lankan government said Sunday that it has requested the United Nations (UN) to escort the food convoys to the northern Jaffna peninsula in the midst of a food crisis and the UN has agreed.

"The UN has agreed to escort food supply vessels to Jaffna," Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe said, adding that four UN officials will arrive in Colombo on Nov. 8 for the purpose.

Since the outbreak of military confrontations between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels and the government in mid-August the food supply situation in Jaffna has been critical.

The clashes led to the closure of the main A9 highway the only link road with the south. The supplies were possible only through the sea route which is a time consuming exercise worsened by the current inclement weather with the monsoons setting in.

The Jaffna population of over 500,000 are facing severe food, fuel and medicine shortages since the mid-August clashes. The selling prices of the commodities available rising four time the normal price.

Source: Xinhua