Aid extended to IDPs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 14 2024:
Villagers of Khoupum Tampak reached out to the victims of the ongoing violent conflict and presented several relief items to internally displaced persons currently taking shelter in a relief camp at Leimaram, Bishnupur district.
A group of villagers from Khoupum Tampak, Noney district led by social activist Daisinlung Pamei came to the relief camp opened at Scheduled Caste Girls Hostel, Leimaram.
The Khoupum villagers presented drinking water and a number of edible items including banana trunks, banana flowers and oranges to the IDPs staying there.
Most of the IDPs staying at the Leimaram relief camp are residents of Churachandpur.
Interacting with the IDPs, Daisinlung Pamei said that people of both the communities have been suffering untold misery on account of the protracted violence.
He urged the State Government to take up decisive actions so as to bring peace and normalcy in the State.
If the violence is not contained effectively before it is too late, all the communities will face extreme hardship, he said.
The protracted crisis will have devastating impacts on children's education, their career and also the State's economy, Daisinlung said.
He also appealed to the Meiteis, being a majority community, to shoulder bigger responsibility toward restoring peace in the State.
"Let us all work together to prevent such crises in future.
With the beginning of a new year, let us all pray that the widespread violence which erupted last year does not happen again this year", Daisinlung continued.
Leichombam Abik who has been staying at the relief camp since the second week of May last year said that they were extremely grateful for the help extended by Rongmei brothers and sisters.
Yet, he expressed deep resentment against how the IDPs have been totally marginalised for the past eight months.
"With a square meal a day, we have been living without any job for the past eight months.
In the meantime, we have been facing trying situations like health problems and child-births.
We are totally at a loss thinking about the future of our children", Abik said.
"We fled for our lives with only the clothes we wore and we are unable to provide even pencils to our children", he added.