“I need to move out of this camp and have a place of my own”

Following heavy shelling and bombardment in Point Pedro, we had to evacuate the village leaving all our belongings behind. While we were running for shelter from our home, sounds of artillery were deafening we ran and ran hoping that we would find a place where we could rest for a while and without knowing where to go, we walked along the Point Pedro road fearing that at any time an artillery shell would fall on us and kill us, we left everything at home in Thurayamoolai where we were living peacefully. We left our livestock and poultry which were giving us an income to run my family without any financial difficulties throughout the year we also left household items, agriculture equipment, furniture, and important documents.

I am a mother of the two children, presently residing at Vavuniya, Poonthoddam. After we left Point Pedro, amidst all the troubles I reached Vanni. In Vanni I was sent to Tharmapuram nutritious centre. My one child who is one and a half years old was suffering from malnutrition. He was brought to Vavuniya hospital and some treatment was given. Though he was treated for malnutrition, he is still suffering and I am unable to provide nutritious food with my measly earnings. This bothers me a lot. My husband has left me and my children are in a quandary. He doesn’t care about my family so; I had to do some thing to find something to feed the children.

Neither my husband nor my relatives help me. So I started to prepare “Vadai” and sell them. I was doing this in the Poonthoddam welfare centre. But I had to stop this as the income from selling “Vadai” was not sufficient to bring up my children. Now I am engaged in sewing. The sewing machine was provided by UNHCR, as I have started this tailoring very recently, I could earn only a little money which is not enough to run my family.

I feel that education is important to my children. I want to educate my children. Then only their future will be bright. Otherwise they will also have to suffer a lot in the future. At present I have no means to educate my children, Because of my position, my children are disgusted. As there are too many people in the place where I live, many problems arise. Living among so many people having no privacy I am not able to educate my children.

With some assistance form UNHCR and INGOs I am living in the welfare centre. My need is not to be labeled an internally displaced person which is not good for me and my children. I need to move out of this camp and have a place of my own. I need assistance to have a place of my own. I can survive. I can then educate my children.

I heard that there is nothing left in Thurayamoolai which is my village. My house was also destroyed by shelling .So it is not possible for me to get back to my village. I need to settle close by.

Narrator: Mrs.Rani Thiyagalingam
Status: Internally Displaced
Displaced from: Point Pedro – Jaffna
Present location: Poonthottam Welfare Centre – Vavuniya
Children: Two