Hunger Hits Thousands Trapped in Sri Lanka War Zone

(25 Apr 09 - RV) U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, arrived in Sri Lanka today amid mounting pressure on the Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender and the government to halt its offensive to wipe out a foe it has fought since 1983.

Since January, the UN reported that at least  6,500 civilians trapped by the fighting have been killed.

Meanwhile the Tamil Tigers warned that thousands of people trapped in the war zone are facing starvation.

The Group of Eight nations and the White House separately have called upon both sides to stop fighting, saying they were deeply concerned  about the mounting death toll and reports of using civilians as "human shields".

We spoke with Simon Schorno, spokesperson for the International Red Cross in Sri Lanka.