Hundreds of villagers are fleeing to the Indian state Mizoram to escape fighting between Tatmadaw and a civilian resistance group in northern Chin State.
According to the Mizo media outlet Zonet, intensified fighting between Burma Army and Chinland Defence Force (CDF) in Thangtlang Township is causing the border exodus. Since the coup, more than 1,500 have sought refuge in the state.
Pu MC Lalramenga, president of Tuipuiral Young Mizo Association (YMA), said there are 300 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Chawngtui and 60 are in Vaphai.
Although the Indian government has officially forbidden IDPs from entering during the recent COVID-19 outbreak, it allowed over one hundred people into Mizoram, according to Pu K. Lalmuankima, joint president of Farkawn YMA. Most are elderly, women and children.
If the conflict in Chin State continues he said the government is prepared to build relief camps in Farkawn, Chawngtui and Vaphai.
Many IDPs who didn’t cross the border are hiding in the jungle.
Fighting is happening in the Khualhring mountain range in Thangtlang Township.