Amid the clashes
between the ruling military and anti-junta protesters in Myanmar, scores of
refugees, who crossed over into India fleeing the violence, have found
temporary refuge in the Zokhawthar area of Mizoram’s Champhai district.
The refugees said
while they are longing to return to their native village, they are scared to do
so in the face of the ongoing clashes.
Speaking to ANI,
Vanlalruata, a resident of Chin State of Myanmar who is sheltered along with
his family at the Bethel refugee camp in Zokhawthar, said the situation back
home continues to be grave and they are spending anxious days amid the
prevailing disquiet and violence.
“We want to go
back but are too scared to do so. We don’t know when the situation will return
to normal. We have found refuge here (Zokhawthar) for the time being. The
Mizoram government and the YMA (Young Mizo Association, an NGO) have helped us
and arranged for us to camp here. We are very thankful to them,” Vanlalruata
told ANI.
He added that
several houses in his village in Chin State were burnt down while still more
were ransacked and damaged.
“While some among
us have returned to the village (in Chin State), some others came back here as
they have lost everything they had back home. We don’t know what’s in store for
us in the days ahead,” Vanlalruata added.
About 500
Myanmarese refugees are currently sheltered at the Bethel refugee camp and 170
of them are children.
Some said they
have been sheltered in the refugee camps over the last two years.
Thanlianchhiari, a
woman refugee from Chin State who is also taking shelter at the Bethel refugee
camp, told ANI, “We want to go to our own village but the current situation in
Myanmar is too volatile. We have lost our homes and have to rebuild from
scratch. We are praying for the restoration of peace in our homeland at the
earliest.”
Esther
Lalpekmawii, a Myanmar national and mother to a 9-month-old, who is currently
sheltered in the Zokhawthar area of Mizoram’s Champhai district, said she
remains fearful of the situation back home in the wake of air strikes (on
anti-junta protesters) by the Myanmarese army.
Esther informed
that the air strikes started on November 12.
Around 5m000
Myanmar nationals are taking shelter in the Zokhawthar area of Mizoram’s
Champhai district after fleeing the violence in their homeland.
These refugees
entered the Champhai district following a fresh airstrike by the Myanmar army
in areas along the India-Myanmar border.
The district
administration, NGOs, the YMA, and the Village Council provided food, clothes,
and medicines to the Myanmarese refugees seeking refuge in makeshift tents in
the Zokhawthar area.
According to
volunteers associated with the Young Mizo Association, Zokhawthar, around 4-5
relief and refugee camps have been set up in the area.
Zokhawthar is a
village in Mizoram’s Champhai district, which shares its border with Myanmar.
In a recent
development across the border, the People’s Defence Force (PDF) of Myanmar
attacked and captured two Army posts, leading to 39 Myanmar army personnel
seeking refuge in Mizoram and subsequently surrendering to the state police.
The number of
Myanmar army personnel, who have surrendered before the Mizoram Police so far,
stands at 42.
The military junta
is facing its biggest test since taking power in a 2021 coup after three ethnic
minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing
some towns and military posts, according to a report.
ANI
