Photo - Tluanga Chhakchhuak |
Displaced Burmese refugees from Myanmar living in Mizoram have joined forces to show their appreciation to the people of Mizoram by donating blood to Aizawl Civil Hospital. The blood drive titled " "Respond to the love of the people of Mizoram by donating blood" was held at the Dawrpui Multipurpose Centre in Aizawl, 36 men and 12 women from the Burmese refugee community participated. A total of 48 units of blood were collected on Wednesday.
Burmese refugees from various parts of Myanmar including high profile MPs were also reportedly present at the blood donation event.
Photo - Tluanga Chhakchhuak |
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While thanking Dawrpui Branch YMA and Association for Voluntary Blood Donation for arranging and providing space for relief camp residents to donate blood, the leader of the displaced community said "We are doing our best to show our gratitude to the Mizo people, NGOs, Churches and Political Parties and the Mizoram Government in every way, this is our first initiative at that".
Chin state of Myanmar which borders Mizoram has been at the forefront of the armed resistance to the junta since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 and has thus borne the brunt of the Myanmar army's wrath.
As many as 15,000 people from Chin state crossed into Mizoram last July-August alone during the fighting that broke out between a pro-democracy civilian resistance group called Chin Defence Force (CDF), backed and trained by the Chin National Army. This year, Over 2,000 people are estimated to have arrived between January 5 and January 20.
Despite the international community's ignorance of the plight of Myanmar refugees and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Mizoram, Mizoram's civil societies and communities have done everything they can to assist the refugees.