Myanmar refugees want ration, kids education from new State government

Myanmar citizens in Sihhmui camp expect new Mizoram government to provide meals, education, medical care & better amenities. Gov't provided rations, water & other essentials, but stopped in Sept. 130 people seek jobs to sustain families. NGOs provide ration. Education & medical care are key concerns. Residents hope for livestock, land for farming & better facilities for women. No discrimination when seeking work. New gov't should provide meals, education, medical care & better amenities.

A decent two-time meal and good education for children are the expectations of a group of Myanmar citizens, who fled their country and are now taking shelter in Mizoram, from the new government in the northeastern State, where assembly polls are scheduled on November 7.

After fleeing their country in the first part of 2021, these people, who have been living in the Sihhmui camp, expect that the Mizoram government will continue to support them by providing rations and other essential items like it was doing before September this year.

Altogether 130 people, who are presently staying in two tin-roofed halls with temporary bamboo walls, are looking for jobs to sustain their families. They would also like to access basic medical care and better amenities at their camp.

"The expectation from the new Mizoram government is that they continue providing us the ration and essential items. For the last two months, life has been difficult in the relief camp after the government stopped the supplies," Kapthang, who hails from Matupi town in Chin state of Myanmar, told PTI here.

The State government provided food, ration, water and other essential items to those living in the camp but stopped all these from September, he added.

"We do not know why, but some people say that as refugees from Manipur also came to Mizoram after the ethnic violence in that State, the government here is overburdened and stopped extending its helping hand. But occasionally, some NGOs send us ration," the 41-year-old Myanmerese said.

More than 31,000 people from Myanmar have been living in Mizoram and the State government provided them with all relief materials. These foreigners, mostly from Chin state, fled following a military coup in the neighbouring country in February 2021.