Kdhiswari’s Escape
She escaped death several times during the past two years. She had to flee her country and beloved parents in the middle of a civil war. She abandoned all her belongings, leaving them in the hands of those who bombed her village. She now lives in a shelter with less than the minimum provisions necessary to live decently. She has a sweet and tender smile and considers herself lucky. She is a refugee.
Kdhiswari’s story resembles so many others of the 100,000 Sri Lankans who find refuge in India. The civil war has raged since 1983 in Sri Lanka. The village of Selvari, where she lived, was bombed. This is how her husband lost a leg. When their neighbors’ house was burned down and the family of four killed, she and her husband finally resolved to escape. Their only possible destination was India. Twelve miles of water separate the island of Sri Lanka from the Indian continent. They gave all their savings to a fisherman, and together with 12 other people, they boarded a small boat at 4 p.m., pretending to cast a line. Hiding in creeks at night while tightly holding on to the few belongings they could carry, they had to stop often to avoid being spotted by the separatist militia. At the crack of dawn, they finally arrived safely on the Indian continent and were immediately directed by authorities to a refugee camp. Kdhiswari now lives in peace, though in very primitive conditions.
“I cannot make any plans for the future,” she says. “I’d like a job, but authorities do not allow refugee women to work. My husband cannot find good working opportunities with only one leg. But right now I prefer to be here, secure in a camp, than in my country.” Kdhiswari is waiting to see if recent peace will last.
ADRA is the only foreign NGO with authorization from the Indian government to enter and work in refugee camps. ADRA India is in charge of water and sanitation projects, latrine construction, and hygiene education. ADRA also provided an ambulance to the entry camp, as some refugees are often in poor health.
