Mizoram govt allocates relief funds to Myanmarese seeking refuge in state

AIZAWL:

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, on Tuesday, said that the state government has sanctioned money for providing relief to the people from Myanmar who have taken refuge in the state.

During an interaction with leaders of the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) over the provision of relief to the Myanmar nationals, Zoramthanga said that the state government has already allocated funds for the purpose.

"The money will be released very soon," he said.

The chief minister also told CYMA leaders that the government will continue to make efforts to provide relief to the people from Myanmar, who seek refuge in the state, on humanitarian grounds.

On March 23, the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) staged a demonstration in Aizawl, demanding that the Centre should grant refugee status to the Myanmarese people, who fled to Mizoram following the military coup in the neighbouring country in February.

As many as 9,247 people from Myanmar, including Chin state chief minister Salai Lian Luai, have taken refuge in Mizoram, a senior police officer told PTI.

Twenty-four lawmakers of Aung San Suu Kyi''s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are also among the Myanmar nationals who took shelter in the state, he said.

The Myanmarese nationals are provided with shelter and food by civil society organisations and students' bodies, while many have been provided accommodation by the locals.

Luai, who was appointed the chief minister of Chin state in 2016, crossed the international border and entered Champhai town on Monday night, the police officer said. 

Sources informed that Myanmar refugees have been often regarded as “brothers and sisters” by the chief minister of Mizoram.

Champhai in Mizoram, throughout the years, served as a prime commercial hub where one could find Myanmarese goods in almost every nook and corner. It is a perfect example of the close ties shared between the people of Mizoram and Myanmar.

Myanmar refugees fled to Mizoram during the 1988 uprising when the military cracked down on protests. Many of the refugees continue to reside in Mizoram to this day.

It can be safely said that the people of Myanmar always considered Mizoram the safest place to be.

(With inputs from agencies)

(Edited by Marvin Kharsohnoh)

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