Kiran - IDPs

2007-03-20T00:24:00.000+05:30

The fierce fighting in the East forced the civilians to flee.

They started to flee from Vakarai since December 2006.

Some of them took the jungle route by foot, after crossing the Thattimunai river.

A few of them crossed the border by sea.

There are 134 families-591 persons sought shelter in Kiran Grounds Welfare camp according to the camp official. The most of the refugees here are from Vakarai and Kathiraveli, some of them have fled Sampoor last year, and lived in Vakarai, before fleeing from Vakarai.

2007-03-19T22:57:00.001+05:30

"I missed my son Rajendran (44), while leaving Vakarai. He is a mentally retarded person. I am worried about him, and don't know his whereabouts" says Sellaiah Ramupillai (72), who is a farmer from Kathiraveli

2007-03-19T22:53:00.000+05:30

Refugees want to return to their houses,but fear for their safety

2007-03-19T22:52:00.000+05:30

Men neither have fixed job nor steady income

2007-03-19T22:50:00.000+05:30

"I had a grinding mill in Kathiraveli. I spent a lot of money to buy the grinding machine to grind rice, grains, and chillie to earn an income. I could not bring the grinding machine with me, while fleeing. I do not know whether my grinding machine is stolen or still there" queries Damayanthini Ekamparam Suvendrarajah (29)

2007-03-19T22:49:00.000+05:30

Refugees share the space with their villagers and others

2007-03-19T22:47:00.000+05:30

Refugees say that they get dry rations, but they need other spices to make a complete meal

2007-03-19T22:46:00.000+05:30

Women in the welfare camps sell their jewelleries to meet their daily expenses

2007-03-19T22:44:00.000+05:30

"I had a land master and other tools used for farming. I left all of them, while fleeing for my life. I cannot afford to buy them again" says Sokkalingam Theivendran (42), a farmer from Kathiraveli

2007-03-19T22:42:00.000+05:30

Welfare camps are already cramped,and there is no privacy

2007-03-19T22:41:00.000+05:30

Parents are concerned about their children's education

2007-03-19T22:39:00.000+05:30

Refugees are worried about the escalating violence

2007-03-19T22:37:00.000+05:30

Children want to go back to school

2007-03-19T22:36:00.000+05:30

Women used to make cane products before the displacement

2007-03-19T22:34:00.000+05:30

Refugees in this welfare camp have been living here for more than two months

2007-03-19T22:33:00.000+05:30

The people of Vakarai had been affected by the Boxing day Tsunami

2007-03-19T22:32:00.000+05:30

They are used to makeshift shelter life

2007-03-19T22:31:00.000+05:30

Mothers say that, they do not eat nutritious food,and unable to breast feed their babies.And they have no money to buy infant food

2007-03-19T22:29:00.000+05:30

Children want more space to play

2007-03-19T22:28:00.000+05:30

The influx of tens of thousands of civilians keeps increasing

2007-03-19T22:27:00.000+05:30

A large number of civilians continue to escape the fighting and seek shelter in welfare camps