Manipur: A call for unity from displaced voices

Jul 08, 2025

Imphal / Churachandpur (Manipur), 08 July, ANI: These makeshift cloth partitions, strung up in a crowded hall, speak volumes — each one marking a fragile boundary of dignity, resilience, and survival.They silently tell the story of Manipur’s internally displaced, whose lives were upended but not broken. At one such relief camp in the capital, the centre at Ideal Girls' College in Akampat, Imphal East, over 100 families — mostly displaced from the border town of Moreh, nearly 100 km away — have taken shelter after the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023. Now, after more than two years of hardship, these families dream of returning home, rebuilding their lives, and reviving their businesses. Above all, they long for unity and lasting peace — the true foundation for a new beginning in Manipur. The government continues to provide free food, medical care, and daily subsistence allowances to the displaced — a lifeline for survival. But for those who’ve lost everything, survival is no longer enough. What they truly yearn for now is to return home, rebuild their lives, and reclaim their future. During the violence, over 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes — Meiteis who once lived in the hills migrated to the valley, while Kuki-Zo communities from the valley sought refuge in relief camps in the hills. Though the violence has subsided, a deep sense of fear and mistrust still lingers, casting a long shadow over both communities as they struggle to rebuild their lives. This is more than a story of displacement — it is a call for humanity, unity, and urgent action. As Manipur grapples with the aftermath of violence, all stakeholders must rise — to ensure the state's children and youth are not defined by trauma, but uplifted through opportunity. The time to act is now. We must not let this generation be scarred by conflict. Their future must be shaped by peace, dignity, and hope — the true pillars of a resilient and united Manipur.