Children from Tharmapuram packed under trees in Theravil
A striking feature of the IDP population that has just moved from Tharmapuram to Theravil are the large number of children among them. Babies in mothers’ arms, dawdling toddlers, young children eating raw mangoes, boys playing marbles or digging bunkers, girls playing hopscotch or caring for younger siblings, they are the ones filling the place.
Similing for the camera There is no school for them now because the school buildings are overflowing with IDPs; so it is either playing or helping mum all day. Young children seem to develop maturity under misery. Many do help out the adults in this most miserable and uncertain environment.
Ten year old Tharmarasa Nirojan can dig a bunker in no time
The cold January weather in Vanni and the frequent rain must be hard on the children. The human contact, especially that of the extended family, also gives them sustenance to withstand the pressures of IDP lives.
Too hungry to wait till it cooks
Mum left the tarpaulin behind and now this is all we got
Taking shade next to a bus
16 January 2009
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