Mizoram Chief Minister Rings Alarm Bell Over Growing Myanmar Refugee Burden

way2barak, June 5: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma anticipates a further influx of people from Myanmar due to the ongoing geopolitical situation, adding that the continued arrival of refugees has become a burden for the state.

Lalduhoma, who was in Shillong to attend the 73rd Plenary Session of the Northeastern Council (NEC), told media persons, “Due to the geopolitical situation there, we are getting many displaced people nowadays. It is likely that more people will come to our side seeking safety. That has become a heavy burden for us.”

Till February this year, Mizoram had registered the biometric details of nearly 90 percent of around 30,900 Myanmar nationals who took shelter in the state following the military coup in February 2021.

A Home Department official in Mizoram said that biometric enrolment has been completed for over 27,810 of the nearly 30,900 Myanmar nationals who sought refuge across the state’s 11 districts. The biometric details of around 15 percent of the 2,375 Bangladeshi refugees have also been recorded so far in the districts of Lawngtlai, Lunglei and Serchhip.

Following the advice of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the biometric enrolment process has been underway through the Foreigners Identification Portal and the Biometric Enrolment System.