The Mizoram government has completed 65.82 per cent of biometric enrolment for Myanmar refugees currently taking shelter in the state, officials said. According to the latest data, Mizoram is hosting 30,893 refugees from Myanmar who crossed the border following the military coup on February 1, 2021, which abruptly halted the country’s democratic transition.
A significant number of refugees had also fled to border villages such as Zokhawthar, Saikhumphai, and Vaiphai in Champhai district amid intensified clashes between Chin rebel groups — the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and Chinland Defence Force (CDF).
Most of the displaced people belong to Myanmar’s Chin State and share close ethnic ties with the Mizos as part of the larger Zo community.
Recently, 49 more refugees entered Mizoram from Haimual village in Tedim township after the Myanmar Army escalated attacks ahead of the first phase of elections scheduled for December 28.
So far, biometric data of 20,333 refugees have been collected and uploaded to the Foreigners Identification Portal. Officials said that efforts are underway to complete the process as quickly as possible.
Biometric enrolment of Bangladeshi refugees in Mizoram is also in progress. Out of 2,374 refugees from Bangladesh, only 332 — about 13.98 per cent — have been enrolled so far.
In Serchhip district, all 249 Bangladeshi refugees have completed the process. In Lunglei district, there are 76 refugees, and in Aizawl district, seven, all of whom have also been enrolled.
Officials noted that district authorities are continuing field visits to ensure full biometric coverage of all refugee populations in the state.
Also read: Swaraj Kaushal, former Mizoram Governor, passes away
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