Residents of Vaphai village in the Champhai district, which borders Myanmar, are building a new relief camp to house 42 Myanmar refugees currently sheltered at Fiaratui Middle School. The school is set to reopen on January 7. According to Rengkhuma, the president of the Vaphai village council, these refugees fled from Hrumhrang village in Myanmar’s Chin state and will be relocated to the new camp once it is complete.
Plans are also underway to establish another camp for 47 refugees from ‘K’ Haimual village in Falam township, who are presently staying in the village community hall. Currently, a total of 89 refugees from Chin state are seeking shelter in Vaphai. This latest influx began on November 28 when refugees crossed into the Saikhumphai hamlet along the Tiau River, arriving in Vaphai two days later.
Those from Hrumhrang arrived in Mizoram in mid-December and were placed in the school since the community hall was already occupied. With no financial aid from the State Government, local villagers have stepped in to provide support, coordinated by the Khawbung Block Development Officer. Personnel from the Assam Rifles stationed in Vaphai have also contributed by delivering essential supplies including rice, cooking oil, lentils, sugar, and milk.
The refugees reported that they fled due to aerial assaults conducted by Myanmar military jet fighters, gyrocopters, and drones, which were followed by ground attacks that set their homes ablaze and killed livestock. They alleged that this renewed military offensive coincided with the junta’s announcement of elections, with polling held in Tedim and Hakha townships on December 28, and a second phase scheduled for January 11 in Falam, Tonzang, and Thantlang. According to the refugees, these attacks were intended to intimidate civilians into participating in the elections and to reclaim military camps previously taken by Chin resistance groups.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/north-east/vaphai-villagers-build-relief-camp-to-relocate-myanmar-refugees-from-school-1603350
Category: North East,Featured
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-01-04 10:23:00
