Burma Junta watch as Chins starve to death

Aizawl, Aug 22: If Mautam (or gregarious bamboo flowering) famine-affected people in Mizoram have been receiving aids from various sources, Chin people in the neighbouring Burma are suffering from the same catastrophe without any help in sight.

“More than 44 people, most of them children have died of Mautam famine in Chin state of Myanmar bordering Mizoram,” Salai Tawna, chairman of Aizawl-based Chin Humanitarian and Relief Committee(CHRC), told the press here today.

The cyclic bamboo flowering phenomenon which occurs every 48 years has also resulted in acute rice shortage in Mizoram due to rodent proliferation resulted by the bamboo flowers. Mizoram shares the same geographical boundary with the Myanmarese state and the people are also of the same origin.

“However, unlike Mizoram which is receiving aids from the state, the central government and international agencies, the military junta in Burma remain unfazed by the suffering of its people,” Chinzah alleged.

“As we just have started assessment, the actual number of deaths could be much higher. And sure it will inevitable increase if immediate relief is not provided,” Chinzah added.

Due to poor rood communications in most of the affected areas, the ground reality in villages could not be ascertained to the global agencies, according to Chinzah.

Moreover, the Myanmar government was trying to hide the real situation from the world.

Most of the affected people are now feeding on wild yams and the hardship has also driven more than 300 children out of school because they had to help their parents search for wild yams in the forest, the source said.

Chinzah also pointed out that at least 400 famine-affected people have fled to Saiha district in the southern parts of Mizoram for their survival. In such situation, the relief committee is hoping for providing relief to the people from the across the border.

“We are appealing to the people of Mizoram and various NGOs to join hands with us in relieving the Chin brethren from the prevailing food crisis,” Chinzah said.

Source: Newslink Aizawl English Newspaper via Zawlbuk.net

Share with others: