COLOMBO: The death toll of civilians caught in the gun battle between the military and the LTTE in and around the Muslim dominated Muttur town has crossed 40 on Friday and an estimated 40,000 persons trapped in the area.

Alarmed at the enveloping humanitarian crisis, major aid agencies here appealed for a "humanitarian corridor" to ensure safe passage of civilians, aid workers and relief items to ease the suffering of the people under siege.