It will be on the agenda again when he visits Pakistan later in the week, before heading into the war zone itself.

VOA: standard.2010.07.22

Independent verification of the fighting is not possible because journalists are barred from the war zone.

VOA: standard.2009.04.06

The United Nations estimates that about 150,000 civilians are trapped in the war zone.

VOA: standard.2009.03.17

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona says that the Tamil Tigers are deliberately not allowing civilians to leave the war zone and are using them as a buffer against attacks by the military.

VOA: standard.2009.03.17

The government's outright rejection for a truce with Tamil Tiger rebels came a day after the European Union said the situation of civilians trapped in the war zone is dangerous and called for a cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid into the region.

VOA: standard.2009.03.17

At one point,there were as many as 300 people a day being deported through Juarez, which has gained a reputation as the most dangerous city in the world outside a war zone.

VOA: standard.2010.04.01