Guwahati: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday stated that the continued influx of refugees from Myanmar is creating a significant burden on the state, warning that more refugees may arrive in the coming months due to instability across the international border.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the North Eastern Council plenary meeting in Shillong, Lalduhoma said, “Due to the geopolitical condition there, we are receiving many displaced people nowadays. It is likely that we will get more people seeking safety. This has become a burden for us.”
With the recent influx of over 1,000 refugees into Champhai district, along the India-Myanmar border, the total number of refugees from Myanmar taking shelter in Mizoram has reached nearly 30,000. The state government has completed biometric enrolment of 28,812 refugees across all 11 districts. Additionally, biometric enrolment of 1,281 out of 1,671 refugees from the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh has also been completed.
Since the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, thousands of refugees have entered Mizoram, fleeing armed conflict and political persecution. Lalduhoma’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the humanitarian, administrative, and financial challenges posed by the prolonged refugee crisis. Officials have repeatedly highlighted the pressure on welfare services, infrastructure, and the state’s limited budget.
Despite these challenges, Mizoram has continued to provide humanitarian assistance, citing historical and ethnic bonds. Local communities have played a key role in hosting displaced families, often sharing food, shelter, and support. Mizoram shares a 510-km porous international border with Myanmar, and the state has strong ethnic and cultural ties with communities across the frontier, particularly the Chin and Mizo groups, who share kinship and language.
