Section 6 (Part 3)
Initially, people were taken to Reception Centres and Rest Centres, most of which were overwhelmed by the numbers. Gross overcrowding, a lack of bedding, cooking facilities and utensils, and poor sanitary conditions proved a major headache for those struggling to provide some sort of comfort to the refugees.
Most people were moved to private billets as quickly as possible but many ended up staying in these centres for several weeks, putting up with all the discomforts while trying to carry on as normal a life as possible.
Experiences of private billeting were mixed: some people made lasting friendships; others found themselves in intolerable situations where resentment grew on both sides. Men were often long distances away from their work or separated from their families.
Not surprisingly, people wanted to come home as quickly as possible, and as soon as repairs were completed on those houses that were still salvageable, many returned. Some, however, were never to return.
