Refugee influx at Mandapam camp

Rameswaram, May 28 : Eighteen more Sri Lankan Tamil refugees arrived here to seek shelter at the Mandapam camp, even as official machinery was geared up to face the influx, which is expected to increase after May 31, when the 45-day annual ban on deep sea fishing ends.

With the arrival of the 18 refugees, including four children from seven families this morning, the number of Tamil refugees to arrive at the Mandapam camp since January 12 has risen to 2593.

As the camp could accommodate about 10,000 refugees, the officials were confident of coping with the situation and said that there was nothing alarming.

However, the official machinery has been geared up to face the situation, especially after May 31, when there is likely to be a spurt in the influx, sources said.

The arrival of refugees began on January 12 after the Sri Lankan forces started attacking the Tamil areas in the North Eastern region and since then there has been a steady flow of refugees arriving here.

However, there was a spurt in the arrival of refugees after the DMK government assumed office as the Tamil refugees believed that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, being the champion of Tamils, would protect them and do the needful.

In the last two weeks alone, 1,100 refugees landed here and on a single day on May 23, as many as 234 refugees arrived. Yesterday, 74 refugees, including 24 children and 24 women landed here.

And once the local fishermen resume deep fishing on June one, the arrival of refugees is expected to increase as the Sri Lankan boatmen would find it easy to drop them on sand dunes in Indian waters. From there, they would be picked up by the local fishermen.

Meanwhile, Mr K Hasan Ali, newly elected Legislator from Ramanathapuram assembly constituency visited the Mandapam camp and enquired about the facilities being provided to the refugees.

UNI