What recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

What recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

The humanitarian situation remains severe in the conflict area. The UN estimates that there are around 50,000 civilians trapped in an area of just 3 sq km. The International Committee of the Red Cross is the only humanitarian agency allowed access, and every humanitarian need in the area is unmet. For the 190,000 internally displaced persons in camps away from the conflict area, such as those that I visited two weeks ago, the conditions are best described as basic.

Yesterday's Human Rights Watch report would appear to confirm beyond reasonable doubt that, contrary to their denials, Sri Lankan forces continue to bombard the Mullaittivu area, an action that has resulted in more than 100 deaths in the past few days, according to reports on the ground. Can the Minister say what representations the Government are making to the Sri Lankan authorities with a view to persuading them to cease the bombardment and allow humanitarian workers into that area, which is, after all, meant to be a no-fire zone?

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point, and one that certainly featured in the conversations that I had with the Foreign Minister in Sri Lanka when I was there two weeks ago. Indeed, the hon. Gentleman's exact request was also a feature of the conversation that I had with the Sri Lankan high commissioner just this morning.

The Minister will understand the sensitivity around the screening process for those seeking to enter refugee camps in Sri Lanka. I am sure he is aware of the concerns expressed by the UN Under-Secretary-General John Holmes about that process and, in particular, about allegations of possible pre-screening by the Sri Lankan army. Can the Minister assure me that Her Majesty's Government are doing all in their power to ensure that the screening process is conducted both fairly and properly?

It is always good to agree with the hon. Gentleman, a near neighbour of mine. We raised the issue of the screening process in conversations that I had with John Holmes when we were in Sri Lanka together. We have called for an international presence to be there during the screening process to give it credibility and give the assurance that the Tamil population is looking for.

I thank the Minister for what he has done so far, including taking my call at 5 am on the current humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka when he was in Indonesia. The key is ensuring that the boat that is just off the coast of Sri Lanka can deliver the tonnes of aid that the Red Cross has already collected. What further steps can we take to ensure the safe passage of that food from the boat into the Tamil areas?

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend's commitment on the issue, which his early morning phone call clearly demonstrated. The Red Cross was able to unload 25 tonnes of food into the conflict area by boat on Saturday. It was hoping to repeat the process yesterday, but was unable to do so because of fierce fighting in the area. We urge both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to stop the fighting so that the Red Cross can continue its most valuable work.

Is it not now clear that there has been firing into a zone that is supposed to be for humanitarian protection? Is that not a war crime? What action will the Government be taking, with the rest of the international community, to put pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka to stop firing into hospitals, schools and civilian areas?

Not only have we called on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE for a ceasefire in the area, but we have made it clear in a debate in this House that we are calling for an early investigation to see whether crimes have been committed against civilians, and that we consider it vital that alleged war crimes are properly investigated. We will be pursuing a mechanism for a transparent inquiry into that process.

I am sure that the whole House will have been shocked by the shelling of the Mullivaikal hospital and the consequent loss of life. What more can the Minister's Department do to impress on the Sri Lankan Government that they should allow into the country all the aid—not just the food aid—that his Department allocates, and that they must ensure that it reaches those for whom it is intended?

I met the Sri Lankan high commissioner this morning to request not only greater international humanitarian access to the camps but United Nations access to the conflict zone, so that we can make a proper assessment of the needs in that area. I should like to pay tribute to the Red Cross worker who was killed yesterday in the conflict zone. He was a water technician who was working to try to save lives, not to prolong the conflict, and he has paid the ultimate price for doing that.