Myanmar Nationals Take Shelter In Mizoram's Champhai After Airstrike

Around 5,000 Myanmar nationals who fled their country have now taken shelter in the Zokhawthar area of Mizoram's Champhai district.

Following the recent airstrike by the Myanmar army in the bordering areas along the Indo-Myanmar border, around 5000 Myanmarese who fled from their country have now taken shelter in the Zokhawthar area of Mizoram's Champhai district. Zokhawthar is a village in Mizoram's Champhai district, which shares its border with Myanmar.

According to an ANI report, the district administration, NGOs, the Young Mizo Association, and the Village Council have provided food, clothes, and medicines to the Myanmar refugees who are now taking shelter in makeshift tents in Zokhawthar. As per the leaders of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Zokhawthar, around 4-5 relief and refugee camps have been set up in the area.

Mal Sawm Par, a Myanmar national, while speaking to ANI spoke about the hardships faced after fleeing his home country. He arrived in Zokhawthar about two years ago, leaving behind a village that was burned down and bringing nothing with him. Despite challenges, he found support in the local community, who provided him with food, clothing, and medical care.

"We came here about 2 years ago and then we didn't bring anything and our village was burned. In Zokhawthar, some people give us clothes and food. Now we have nothing so we cannot go back. It is also very difficult to go back so we have to stay here. How long we stay here, we also don't know; nobody knows. The people here are good to us. All the people help us so much and give us what we need. When we get sick, they give us a doctor. The medicine is free for us," Mal Sawm Par, a Myanmar national, told ANI.

The Myanmar Army and the People's Defence Force (PDF) are engaged in an intense fight, leading to a surge in refugees into India. Recently, officers of the Assam Rifles held a key meeting with Mizoram village chiefs and leaders of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) to discuss the ongoing refugee situation along the border villages, reported news agency IANS.

Approximately 32,000 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge in various districts of Mizoram, with Zokhawthar village being one of them, following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, the IANS reported.

The six Mizoram districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial, and Saitual, share a 510 km long unfenced international border with Myanmar’s Chin state, guarded by the Assam Rifles.

Most refugees are residing in relief camps, government buildings, or with relatives, the Mizoram government, Church bodies, YMA, NGOs, and individuals have contributed towards providing food to the Myanmar refugees, predominantly from the Chin tribal community. The Mizos share close ethnic ties with the Chin community, along with linguistic and lifestyle similarities.