Helping Neighbours
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 10 2015 -
The recent news of Young Mizo Association (YMA)’s intention of sending 100 quintals of rice to Myanmar as an immediate relief for the victims of massive flood in that country alludes to the importance of understanding not only ethnic allegiance but also the compulsions of helping neighbours.
Latest reports say that the number of people affected by flooding across Myanmar was approaching one million.
Flood waters in the low-lying southwestern delta have inundated homes and forced villagers into temporary shelters.
The death toll in the flood was likely to cross over 100 soon. The floods have been caused by extreme weather due to Cyclone Komen.
The parts of Chin Hills and nearby ethnic Mizo inhabited areas have also been ravaged by floods.
The effort of the YMA has been appreciated by all in Mizoram and the Churches, several NGOs in the state collected donations to help flood victims in Myanmar and even Manipur.
Charity concerts have been organized to collect funds for the flood victims in Myanmar and Manipur.
Moreover, the Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rush aid to flood-affected areas of Myanmar.
He has also volunteered Mizoram as the base for possible air-dropping operations as many western regions of Myanmar remain cut off by road due to landslides and floodwaters.
It may be mentioned that Myanmar’s western regions is home to a number of ethnic Zo communities with whom Mizos in Indian side still retain close cultural ties.
Responding to Myanmar’s request for help, the Government of India had dispatched emergency relief supplies, including rice and medicines to Myanmar.
It has been reported that Indian Air Force aircraft have delivered supplies to Kalay and Mandalay and other affected areas as advised by the Myanmar authorities.
The operation has been conducted by the External Affairs Ministry in coordination with the Myanmar Government and the Home, Health and the Defence Ministries, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Embassy in Yangon and the Consulate of India in Mandalay.
However, it is not known if the Government of India has actually considered the specific request made by the Mizoram Chief Minister with regard to air dropping relief materials in his State’s immediate neighbourhood – the Chin Hills.
On July 31, Myanmar President Thein Sein declared Chin and Rakhine States and Magway and Sagaing regions as natural disaster zones that needed emergency assistance.
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