Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's government said on Feb. 17 it would ferry 50 tons of food and medicine to tens of thousands of people trapped in a fast-shrinking war zone. A boat was due to leave the eastern port of Trincomalee and would bring food to the northeastern coastal area of Puttumatalan, where the military has established a new 7.5 miles no-fire zone. Aid agencies have said people trapped in the war zone lack medicine and face dwindling food supplies. They estimate around 200,000 people are trapped, although the government puts the number at 50,000-70,000. (Reuters)