The United Nations has confirmed an attack on the last functioning hospital in the territory dominated by the Tamil Tigers in North Eastern Sri Lanka on 1 February. At least nine people were killed. The hospital was under heavy artillery fire for 18 hours. The UN confirmed that government forces were conducting air strikes on targets within about 1000m of the hospital in Puthukudiyiruppu.

This week the Sri Lankan President declared that state troops are close to defeating the 25-year Tamil struggle for a separate homeland.

Human Rights Watch accused the government of "callous indifference" towards the estimated 250,000 civilians trapped on the frontline. It was reported that these civilians had fled the frontline early on Friday 6 February.

The government has targetted the funding received by the LTTE from overseas, and has also tried to reduce arms supplies to the rebels through joint Sri Lankan/Indian patrols intercepting supplies by sea vessels. The Sri Lankan army reported on 3 February that the rebels had resorted to handing out small arms to civilians in a last bid to retain their territory.

The civilian suffering caused by the conflict has been enormous. The total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to the conflict is 500,000, according to Sri Lankan civil society. IDPs are currently placed in government-run camps, which civil society organisations are banned from visiting.