SBS Dateline | India s Tamil Exodus

As part of Dateline's special on the rising number of Sri Lankan asylum seekers, Evan Williams visits camps holding 70,000 of the estimated 140,000 Tamils now living in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

The refugees fled Sri Lanka during the war and fear for their safety if they return to their homeland. With few prospects in India, they’re awaiting an opportunity to board boats bound for Australia.

Evan hears anguished stories from the refugees of family members, who’ve left for Australia by sea - and have never made it to their destination.

He speaks to police who say many of the people smugglers had earlier operated boats for the Tamil Tigers and who, now that the war is over, have no other means of making money.

And Evan gives a graphic account of the conditions asylum seekers face on board the boats.

WATCH - Click to see his revealing story on India's Tamil Exodus, broadcast as part of Dateline's Sri Lanka special to coincide with the start of the new series of Go Back To Where You Came From.

INTERACTIVE MAP - Which countries do Australia's asylum seekers come from? And how does Sri Lanka rank in the list? Use our interactive map to find out.

HOW TO HELP - Find out about some of the groups working to help Tamil refugees in camps in India.

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