10 percent of population widowed in Kandawali, Kilinochchi of Sri Lanka

N. Sathyaseelan, the Divisional Secretary of Kandawali in Kilinochchi district of Sri Lanka, points out that of the 6,957 families resettled in his area, 697 are families are headed by a single mother.

The Divisional Secretary revealed these data at a press conference held in Kilinochchi by the United Nations humanitarian agency, UNHCR.

The administrative officer's reports highlight families in which both mother and father were killed during the armed conflict that lasted nearly three decades. There are 456 children living with one of the parent while 340 families have at least one disabled person.

About 90 percent of the residences of the internally displaced have been destroyed in the war. They are now given temporary housing by the UNHCR.