Civilians in Vaharai are displaced in several refugee camps in Batticaloa district due to the escalating violence recently. There are 2,304 persons- 713 families are living in Vinayagapuram refugee camp in Valaichchenai. Among them are 1,096 males and 1,208 females living here.

Most of them are fishing folks from Vaharai. They were affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, and are still in the midst of rebuilding their lives, and livelihoods.