The top United Nations humanitarian official kicked off his visit to Sri Lanka today with a stop at camps housing some of the civilians uprooted during the country?s decades-long conflict to see what progress has been made in terms of releases and the remaining problems.

Some 12,000 families began leaving refugee camps yesterday on their way to Mullativu and Kilinochchi districts, former Tamil Tiger strongholds. About 160,000 people remain in refugee camps. The Indian government calls for faster repatriation.

The elephants on the island number 8,500. They destroy homes and crops and even claim victims among the population. Some people spend the night in trees to fend off marauding pachyderms.

The elephants on the island are now 8 thousand 500. In some areas their raids destroy homes and crops and even claim victims among the population. The example of Diyakepilla village where the inhabitants are forced to spend the night in trees to defend themselves and monitor the fields.

British minister for international development visits refugee camps in northern Sri Lanka. He finds progress in resettling refugees “disappointing”, urges Sri Lankan government to speed up process before monsoon season makes matters worse.

India's Tamil Nadu Christians show solidarity with Tamil civilians of Sri Lanka languishing in refugee camps. Thousands at risk for lack of food, water, and medical attention; treated like "animals".

People with relatives in refugee camps can get them out if they are ready to house them -- the government allocates US$1.1 million for refugees

Ariyaratne, a devout Buddhist, speaks of Mother Teresa as "the angel of mercy" that "today would run with her sisters to where the war refugees live"