This report is based on a mental health survey among the population of the Welfare Centres (WFCs) in Vavuniya (Sri Lanka). The Welfare Centres were established in 1991 as temporary facilities to house those that were to be resettled in other parts of Sri Lanka. Due to the ongoing insecurity, the mostly Tamil inhabitants have settled permanently in the Centres. A pass system limits the movements of this group of 23, 000 people considerably. The findings of the survey only touch on the sufferings of the country