Geneva - A staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) died after succumbing to wounds sustained during a shelling incident in the north of Sri Lanka, the organization said Thursday.

Vadivel Vijayakumar worked as a water technician for the ICRC.

"In recent days he was involved in ICRC-facilitated medical evacuations, helping to bring patients from the makeshift medical facility in Putumattalan to the beach and then on to the ICRC ferry for evacuation to Trincomalee," the group said in a statement.

Over 2,000 people have been ferried out of the conflict zone by the ICRC.

Vijayakumar had three children, and one son was also wounded in the shelling, which took place Wednesday afternoon.

The ICRC said it would continue its work in Sri Lanka. (dpa)