As part of the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week, the symbolic distribution of porridge took place across various parts of the Northern and Eastern Tamil homeland.
This act commemorates a painful chapter from the final and most devastating phase of the civil war in 2009. During that time, porridge tents were set up in the Mullivaikkal region through the efforts of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), offering a single daily meal to thousands of displaced and starving civilians trapped in the conflict zone.
Children and adults stood in long queues amid constant shelling, waiting for a bowl of porridge—often their only nourishment for the day. In a further tragedy, even these relief centers became targets, and many civilians were killed in shell attacks while waiting for food.
Despite the danger, people kept returning to these makeshift kitchens, driven by hunger and the hope of survival. Over time, this simple meal of porridge has become a powerful symbol of both the immense suffering and unyielding resilience of the Tamil people.
Every year on May 18, porridge is distributed across the Tamil homeland in memory of those dark days, paying tribute to the countless lives lost and the enduring spirit of a community that continues to seek justice and healing.
