A document from the UN claims 6,432 civilians have been killed and 13,946 wounded. Sri Lanka says these numbers are inflated. source
The UN says at least 108,000 have left the Tamil warzone since Monday; Sri Lanka says 196,000 have escaped since the beginning of the year. source
The UN estimates that 50,000 people are still trapped in the warzone; Sri Lanka says the number is much closer to 10,000 to 20,000. (It’s a lot.) source
The halt will allow civilians to leave the warzone. Sri Lanka, who has been in conflict with the Tamil Tigers longer than M.I.A. has been alive, has been facing increased international scrutiny (and heavy protests from Tamils abroad) for its military push to force the Tigers into defeat, because it’s come at the cost of large civilian casualties. The cease-fire would allow civilians just enough time to escape so they aren’t in the crossfire. source