Cradled by strangers, nurtured by hope: Relief camp turns into Home
Source: Chronicle News Service / Niranjan Oinam

Imphal, August 10 2023: Praja Higher Secondary School located at Lamsang Keithel, once bustling with academic activities, now stands in sombre silence as a chilling reminder of the ongoing violence that has swept through the state.

Since May 3, the school has been repurposed into a relief camp, enveloped an atmosphere of gloom and eerie stillness, occasionally disrupted by laughter of the children, who are taking refuge in the camp.

In the midst of escalating violence from May 3 onwards, Praja Higher Secondary School has transformed into a heaven of a sort for the displaced children.

Unlike typical relief camps housing people of all ages, this makeshift children's home, organised by local clubs and Meira Paibi volunteers, has emerged as parents entrusted their young ones to the care of a handful of dedicated Meira Paibi members.

The parents themselves have ventured to the frontlines to safeguard their homes, villages, and the state.

Remarkably, some of the displaced children within the camp are below the age of five.

The camp is efficiently run by the Progressive Youth Association volunteers and around ten devoted Meira Paibi members, who are tending to the needs of these children while their parents are out in the battle on the frontline.

Given the tender age of the camp s occupants, the pressing needs include snacks, milk, toys, books, and stationary supplies more than the usual essentials.

A visit by The People's Chronicle to the camp revealed the heart-breaking stories of the inmates, under the care of the Meira Paibi members, who tirelessly care for these children separated from their parents due to the ongoing crisis.

The school was converted into a relief camp by local clubs and Meira Paibi Lup after the Phayeng area faced brutal armed attacks from hill-dwelling Kuki militants.

The majority of the camp's residents hail from Phayeng, while a few families are from Serou, Kangvai, and Moirang Purel.

Parents of the children in the camp courageously stand at the forefront, day and night, protecting their villages, homes, and possessions.

Balancing concerns for their children's safety with their unyielding commitment to their motherland, these parents have entrusted their children to the care of local club volunteers and Meira Paibis, even as they continue a relentless battle that has persisted for a hundred days.

Initially housing 120 individuals, including 80 young children, the camp now shelters around 30 children as some parents have taken back their children home, which are located at a safer location from the foothills.

However, the parents often return their children to the camp in case fresh attacks occur.

The volunteers also step in, transporting children from villages if parents are unable to do so, whose actions reflect a deep love for their children and a sense of duty towards their homeland.

These children have already been touched by the crisis's impact, with some suffering from traumatic experiences that trigger panic and even fainting upon hearing gunshots or clanging of electric poles.

The volunteers, in response, employ various measures to dampen alarming sounds, like playing loud TV sets.

They also even create awareness among the people to avoid clanging of electric poles as far as possible.

Regular counselling sessions are arranged with psychiatrist Dr Lenin, particularly for three or four most affected children.

The camp's needs have evolved since its inception, transitioning from aid provided by organisations and NGOs to now receiving basic food supplies from the government.

To supplement the children's diets, volunteers contribute vegetables from their garden and buy milk for them.

However, the children also require daily snacks, and there have been innocent requests for birthday celebrations.

While it's a financial strain, the volunteers accommodate these requests from their own pockets.

Once they celebrated birthday of a child, they get similar request from other children and the volunteers are in no position to deny the innocent demands.

In this environment, traditional games like Khullokpi come to life as the children find joy and camaraderie amidst uncertainty.

The relief camp has become a space for laughter and bonding, reminiscent of the innocence of childhood, even in the most challenging circumstances.

As parents leave their children behind in the camp, mixed emotions of worry, duty, and hope for a better future weigh heavily on their hearts.

They entrust their beloved offsprings to strangers' care, driven by the necessity to protect their homeland.

For the children, staying in an unfamiliar environment without their parents is an experience marked by both resilience and a longing for the comfort of home.

The relief camp's plea for assistance resonates deeply: snacks, toys, and the basic necessities that can offer these children a sense of normalcy and care amid tumultuous times.

The volunteers' dedication and the parents' sacrifices underscore the strength and unity that arise in the face of adversity, reminding us all of the enduring human spirit.

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