Guwahati, September 14 (NKTV): The fresh influx of refugees from the military coup hit Myanmar continued with over 1,500 Myanmar nationals forced to take shelter in Mizoram after the Myanmar Army and the opposition forces fierce battle in the country’s western region on Friday.
As per official state government data accessed by The Indian Express, 1,546 Myanmar nationals have entered Mizoram between Friday and Monday.
Local police and district officials said that the fresh immigrants including women and children took shelter in 15 to 16 villages in Mizoram’s three districts — Champhai, Lawngtlai and Hnahthial districts bordering Myanmar crossed the Tiau River through small country boat and swam across to take shelter in the bordering villages of the northeastern state of India.
According to the official report, 278 refugees had come into Champhai district, while 1,268 refugees had entered Hnahthial district. In Thingsai, which is close to the border, there are at least 720 refugees currently taking shelter.
According to a district administration official in Hnahthial, the new refugees were camping in makeshift shelters. “The Young Mizo Association (YMA) and other civil society groups have been helping them on humanitarian grounds,” the official said, adding, “Even before Friday’s incident, there were about 700 of them in different parts of our district. They are being accommodated by village councils in 6-7 villages.”
The official further said that they had received reports that the firing happened “very close” to Thingsai. “Locals reported that they could hear the sound of firing and bombing,” the official said.
As many as 9,450 refugees — which included about 20 Myanmarese legislators —were taking refuge across 10 districts of Mizoram on September 1. The number has now risen to 11,065 after Friday’s incident. Official sources said that the number was expected to further go up.
Most of the refugees from Myanmar have been provided makeshift shelters by various local NGOs, including the Young Mizo Association which also provided them food, medicines and other basic necessities on humanitarian ground, while several others are living with their relatives.
Mizoram shares a 510km-long international border with Myanmar.
Since March, after the military junta staged a coup in Myanmar, thousands of refugees from the Chin state have crossed over the border into Mizoram. While the Centre had ordered that borders be closed to Myanmar refugees, the Mizoram National Front (MNF) government led by Zoramthanga had welcomed them as “fellow brethren” since they share common tribal lineage and “deep ethnic bonds”.
Earlier this month, the Mizoram government said that children of migrant or refugee Myanmar nationals, currently taking shelter in Mizoram after fleeing the military coup, can now be admitted to schools in the state.