Mizoram: Australia-based groups and MZP sign tripartite agreement to aid refugees

Aizawl: A tripartite agreement was signed recently in Australia by three organisations to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees taking shelter in Mizoram, an official said on Sunday.

The agreement was signed on November 10 in Brisbane, Queensland's capital, by Australia-based Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Institute (HADRI), Australian Chin Community Council (ACCC) and Mizoram's apex student body, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) in the presence of Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena, he said.

The three-year tripartite agreement was signed by HADRI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mitchell King, HADRI Managing Director and Australia Chin Community representative Lawmthanga Brisbane, and MZP general secretary Lalhmingsanga.

Vanlalvena also attended a festival of Matu tribes from Myanmar in Queensland, Australia on November 15, the official said.

Australian Deputy Leader of the Opposition Cameron Dick, Logan City Mayor John Raven, Australian Indigenous Leader Heather Castledine, and LNP party Senator Paul Scarr also attended the event, he said.

During the festival, leaders of the Matu community submitted a representation to the Mizoram MP asking him to initiate steps to ensure that all the 15 sub-tribes of Matu are included in Mizo tribal list, he said.

Vanlalvena along with MZP general secretary Lalhmingsanga also graced the Chin conference in Australia on November 16, the official said.

According to the state home department, Mizoram currently provides shelter to over 40,000 refugees, including 6,953 people displaced by ethnic conflict in Manipur.

There are 30,815 refugees from Myanmar and 2,354 asylum seekers from Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh taking shelter in different parts of the state, they said.

The state government has completed nearly 60 per cent of biometric enrollment of Myanmar refugees and about 10 per cent of refugees from Bangladesh as per the Centre's direction, officials said.