May 01, New York: Despite being optimal the situation in the camps are improving due to the efforts of all aid providers, the United nations said Thursday adding that as of Thursday, some 172,000 people have crossed out of the conflict zone in Sri Lanka, including nearly 2,000 wounded and caregivers in hospitals.

Ms. Marie Okabe, the UN Deputy Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the daily noon briefing on Thursday (April 30) there have been no new arrivals at the Omanthai screening point in the last 24 hours, and the Government of Sri Lanka has informed the United Nations that none are in transit.

The UN believes still some 50,000 people are trapped in the conflict zone. According to the Sri Lankan government this number is around 15,000 to 20,000 and may include the families of hardcore LTTE cadres who wish to remain there.

A serious issue in the camps is the congestion and shelter is inadequate. The UN has requested the government to make available all public buildings and usable land for the accommodation of the large number of civilians.

Ms. Okabe said that in response to the requests by the humanitarian agencies to allow the civilians more freedom, the government authorities have released 111 elderly IDPs from Menik Farm camp and Vavuniya Sivapirakasa Ladies College and another 10 elderly IDPs from camps in Jaffna.

Since the beginning of the year, Government authorities have released a total of more than 1,250 individuals from camps, the UN said.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, who just returned from a visit to the IDP camps said on Wednesday that the UN would continue to press the government for a pause in fighting to evacuate the civilians and allow its staff to go into the no-fire zone.

The government has denied the UN staff entry to the no-fire zone citing security reasons that the staff might be taken as hostages by the LTTE.

Since there is no military presence in the area held by the rebels, Sri Lankan authorities fear that LTTE might detain the aid officials to use as a bargaining tool to hamper military operations to capture the LTTE leader.