The refugees in the Batticaloa district face numerous problems and the welfare organizations find it very difficult to provide basic facilities to the refugees. According to the statistics collected at the beginning of this month, 139,000 displaced people live in refugee camps or with their relatives and friends in their houses.

Since a large number of refugees are accommodated in refugee camps, there aren’t enough toilets and other such basic facilities to the refugees.

The camps are likely to be prone to the spread of diseases as a result of the prevailing situation there. The refugees that include children, women, elders and patients live in mental stress. The resettlement moves at a very slow pace. Nobody appreciates the feelings of the refugees.

By continuing the war and displacing the innocent people, we cannot find peace. We cannot resolve the national crisis. If there is a concern that the Tamils are also citizens of this country, then such unfortunate situations may not arise.

Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to solve the problems of the refugees, to provide them with relief and to resettle them on humanitarian grounds.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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