UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United Nations humanitarian chief Wednesday criticized a two-day pause in the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels as `` inadequate . '' U.N. Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes said he would have liked a `` proper humanitarian pause . '' John Holmes , the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator , told reporters that the 48-hour break in hostilities was not sufficient , even as fighting resumed in the northeast of the country . The brief cessation of hostilities was announced by the Sri Lankan government on April 12 and allowed the U.N. and its partners to bring in necessary aid , said Holmes . He said he would have liked a `` proper humanitarian pause '' that lasted longer than two days , but hoped the break allowed for some progress to occur . Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon had originally welcomed the announcement by the Sri Lankan government . However , Ban also expressed his concern that , `` This is less than the full humanitarian pause of several days I had pressed for . '' But Ban added that the pause `` is nevertheless a useful first step and an opportunity to move towards the peaceful and orderly end to the fighting now so badly needed . '' The government of Sri Lanka has been battling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam -LRB- LTTE -RRB- rebels in a civil conflict that has lasted nearly 25 years . The LTTE has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries , including the United States and the nations of the European Union . As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict officially began in 1983 . The most pressing concern now , according to Holmes , is the fact that over 100,000 people are currently crowded in a `` very small pocket of land '' that is about five square miles , or about twice the size of New York 's Central Park . `` It is a very small area indeed for what we believe is very large number of people '' Holmes explained . The crowded population , primarily comprised of Tamil civilians , is subject to the continuing Sri Lankan government assaults . The British and French foreign ministers released a joint statement as well on Wednesday , claiming that the LTTE is also using Tamil civilians as human shields . Holmes also called attention to the fact that the press has been barred from covering the civil strife in Sri Lanka . Ultimately , Holmes and the United Nations would like to see a peaceful end to the hostilities , but `` its pretty clear , frankly , that a ceasefire as such is not something available at present circumstances . ''