Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2009:
Taking serious note of the plight of displaced villagers from North Cachar Hills, Assam who are currently taking refuge at Tousem, different NGOs led by the Women's Committee of the United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNMM) donated 20 bags of rice, two bags of dal, 10 kgs of fermented fish (Ngari), around 280 numbers of local soap, two bags of salt, five and half cartons of biscuits, utensils, 10 dozens of candles, clothes and some essential medicines.
According to a press release issued by UNMM, a 17 member team, comprising of 14 members from Imphal and three from Tamenglong visited the five relief camps opened at Aben, Mandu and Tousem from June 2 to 4 and delivered the relief items.
The team found that around 600 internally displaced persons, mostly women and children have been taking shelter at the five relief camps.
As they fled their homesteads under violent situation, the displaced villagers brought nothing with them except the clothes they wore.
Among those people taking shelter at the camps, there were many children whose parents stayed back in North Cachar Hills to protect their houses and other properties.
A majority of the children were found suffering from malnutrition, scabies, diarrhoea, dysentery and some cases of malaria.
There were many pregnant women too.
However, there is only one health centre at Tousem.
But according to the local people, the lone doctor posted there remained absent most of the time.
Under such situation, the local people of Tousem have been relying on ASHA workers for child delivery.
A two year old child who was on the brink of collapse due to days of diarrhoea and dehydration was taken to Jiribam CHC along with the mother by the team.
The team also donated some money to the mother for medical expenses and for returning to Tousem, it conveyed.
As the displaced persons were housed in cramped space, scabies and other contagious have been taking a toll.
Moreover, the relief committee is facing severe hardships in providing basis requirements to the campers.
While appealing to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for a solution to the ongoing violence in North Cachar area at the earliest, the Women's Committee of the United NGOs Mission Manipur urged upon the Government of Manipur to provide urgent and necessary aid to the displaced persons currently taking shelter in Tousem sub-division.
It further appealed to both the Dimasa and Zeme people to eschew violence and work towards a peaceful solution.