Mizoram has completed biometric enrolment for 58.15% of the more than 31,000 Myanmar refugees living across its 11 districts. A home department official confirmed the progress and said the enrolment began in July under a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The official added that Mizoram has also recorded biometric and biographic details of 10.84% of the asylum seekers from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Both groups are being documented through the Foreigners Identification Portal and the Biometric Enrolment System.
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Refugee Numbers and Locations
At present, 31,214 people from Myanmar are staying in different parts of the state. Champhai district, which borders Myanmar, hosts the largest share of them. Many refugees live in relief camps, while others stay with relatives, friends, or in rented homes.
Mizoram is also sheltering 2,354 refugees from the CHT region of Bangladesh. Most of them are in Lawngtlai district. Some others are living in Lunglei district and in Thenzawl town under Serchhip district.
In addition to foreign refugees, the state is housing 6,953 internally displaced people from Manipur. These people left their homes after ethnic violence broke out in the state in 2023.
Slow Progress and Technical Challenges
The official said the enrolment of CHT refugees has been slower. Only a little over 200 of the 2,354 people have completed the process so far. Teams often face technical issues in remote areas, including weak or unstable internet connectivity.
Officials find it easier to collect details from people living in relief camps. The task becomes harder when refugees stay in scattered homes or in villages that are difficult to access. In some places, biometric devices also face technical errors that delay the work further.
Ethnic Ties and Humanitarian Support
Most Myanmar refugees belong to the Chin community. They share close ethnic and cultural ties with the Mizos. Many fled after the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. The coup triggered violence and instability, forcing them to cross the border into Mizoram.
Refugees from the Bawm community in Bangladesh’s CHT region also have strong ethnic links with the Mizos. They arrived in 2022 when security operations increased in their area. Mizoram has continued to support both groups despite limited resources. Local bodies, churches, and community groups are providing food, shelter, and basic care. The ongoing biometric enrolment aims to improve documentation and help the state manage aid and services more efficiently.
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