Manipur: Returning home is just the first step for displaced families

Jul 22, 2025

Imphal West / Kangpokpi (Manipur), 22 July, ANI: After more than two years of heartbreak and displacement, several Meitei families made a poignant return to Kangchup — a village nestled in the Lamshang subdivision of Imphal West district, Manipur. Once filled with laughter and life, their homes now stand as charred remnants of the ethnic violence that erupted in early May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The flames not only consumed their houses but also uprooted their lives, forcing them into relief camps overnight. Today, amidst the ruins, hope flickers again. With the government announcing plans to rehabilitate thousands of displaced families across the state, these villagers dare to dream of rebuilding — not just their homes, but also the bonds that once held their community together. More than 50,000 people from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities were internally displaced during the ethnic clashes, and the majority have spent over two years living in relief camps — waiting, hoping, and enduring. In Faijang area of Kangpokpi district, rows of fabricated sheet shelters have become makeshift homes, weathering both time and hardship. Here, 896 people from 184 families continue to live in limbo. While some youth have moved to other districts in search of education or jobs, many remain — with nowhere else to go. Camp in-charge Momoi acknowledges that the government has provided essential facilities, but her heart still longs for Imphal — the city where her life once felt whole. Yet, true rehabilitation goes beyond physical resettlement — it requires lasting peace, adequate security, and access to essential services like healthcare and education. Only then can these communities move from survival to rebuilding lives with dignity, hope, and a renewed sense of belonging….