Aizawl: The recent influx of over 1,000 refugees into Champhai district has increased the total number of Myanmar refugees sheltering in Mizoram to approximately 40,000. The Mizoram government is currently treating these new arrivals as temporary refugees and has not included them in ongoing biometric enrolment efforts.
State government records show that there are now 29,723 registered Myanmar refugees in Mizoram, with Champhai hosting the largest number at 12,083. State home department officials said that although over 1,000 refugees from Falam township of Chin state have been sheltering in Champhai since May 1, they are not included in the ongoing biometric enrolment exercise. “The new entrants are not included in the biometric process as they are most likely to return soon,” a home department official stated.
First Wave of Refugees
The first wave of refugees arrived in Champhai following an airstrike at Khawpuichhip village in Falam township on May 1, which killed seven people, including six children, one of whom was a five-month-old infant. Police reported that 151 refugees from Khawpuichhip entered Zokhawthar village, situated on the India-Myanmar border along the Tiau river. Additionally, 42 refugees from Khawpuichhip, Satawm, and Saek entered Saikhumphai hamlet, approximately 80 kilometres west of Zokhawthar.
Second Wave and Rising Tensions
The second and latest wave of influx occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, when 822 refugees fled to Zokhawthar amid fears of an impending westward push by Myanmar Junta troops. These troops had recaptured Falam town and nearby Surbung Airport on April 25 after a year under the control of the Chin Brotherhood.
Concerns are mounting over a possible attempt by Junta troops to recapture areas near Champhai district, locally known as Hualngoram. The Hualngoram People’s Organisation (HPO) and its armed wing, Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-Hualngoram), issued a circular on May 9, urging all CDF-Hualngoram cadres on leave to join immediately in anticipation of a possible advance of the Myanmar Army from Falam.
The HPO also issued an appeal to the Hualngoram Reserved Force (HRF) cadres to prepare for any eventuality. The HRF members are village volunteers who have undergone basic guerrilla training and were recruited to support the CDF-Hualngoram in times of conflict.
Border Trade at Risk
HPO leader Khuma stated that the Junta administration is eyeing to recapture the Rihkhawdar-Khawmawi sector, where lucrative border trade takes place with the Zokhawthar trade centre in Mizoram’s Champhai district. Zokhawthar village, a key border town and popular tourist destination, faces a humanitarian crisis and demographic strain. The total population of Zokhawthar village in the 2011 Census was under 3,000, while the village now hosts around 8,000 refugees.
Biometric Enrolment Progress
Meanwhile, district officials across 11 districts in Mizoram have completed biometric enrolment of 28,812 Myanmar refugees out of the total 29,723. Additionally, officials have completed biometric enrolment of 1,281 out of 1,671 refugees from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh as of Saturday.
