Mizoram govt vows support for refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh & Manipur

AIZAWL: The Mizoram government reaffirmed its commitment to providing assistance to over 42,000 individuals from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur who have sought refuge in the state.

This was stated by Mizoram home minister K Sapdanga in the state assembly on Monday (March 04).

Responding to inquiries, Sapdanga noted the fluctuating numbers of asylum seekers from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as those displaced from Manipur, making it challenging to maintain daily records.

According to the latest data from the Mizoram home department, there are 9248 individuals from Manipur, 32,161 from Myanmar and 1167 from Bangladesh in the state.

“We will continue to extend relief to asylum seekers from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as internally displaced persons from Manipur, on humanitarian grounds to the best of our ability,” Sapdanga assured, addressing a query posed by MNF MLA K Laldawngliana.

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He further mentioned that the central government had allocated Rs 3 crore to the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) administration in Mizoram to aid individuals from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur.

Last week, Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma stated that the state government was managing the influx of individuals using the available resources at its disposal.

The influx of individuals from Myanmar began following the military coup in February 2021, while Bangladeshis sought refuge in Mizoram in November 2022 amid military operations targeting an ethnic insurgent group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

The Kuki-Zo community from Manipur sought sanctuary in Mizoram due to ethnic violence that erupted in the neighbouring state in May of the previous year.

The Chin people of Myanmar, the Bawm community of Bangladesh, and the Kuki-Zo people of Manipur share ethnic ties with the Mizo community.