The civilians of Vakarai started to flee for their lives in December 2006. They are spending their lives in the makeshift shelters in Batticaloa.

There are 950 families-1,553 persons living in Maavadivempu welfare camp. The camp is cramped with people sitting under trees, and outside their plastic tents. These stretch of tents are put next to each other, where there is hardly any space in between.

The place is very hot and dusty. People find it difficult to stay in the tents during the day time. They escaped the crossfire, now their worry is about their missing loved ones, left belongings and the future for their children