Authorities in Mizoram have registered the biometric details of nearly 90% of the approximately 30,900 Myanmar nationals who sought refuge in the state after the military coup in February 2021. Biometric enrollment has been completed for over 27,810 individuals across the state’s 11 districts. Additionally, around 15% of the 2,375 Bangladeshi refugees have had their biometric details recorded in Lawngtlai, Lunglei, and Serchhip districts.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs advised the biometric enrollment process, which is being carried out through the Foreigners Identification Portal and the Biometric Enrolment System. The initiative began in central Mizoram’s Serchhip district on July 30, with the remaining districts following suit. Notably, Aizawl, Lunglei, and Serchhip districts have achieved 100% completion of the biometric enrollment process.
Champhai district, hosting the largest concentration of refugees at around 12,000, continues to accommodate a significant number of individuals. Recent unrest in Chin state led to approximately 240 new refugees from Myanmar entering Mizoram last week. These refugees are being housed in designated camps, relatives’ homes, and rented accommodations across all districts.
The enrollment process includes collecting biographical details such as names, addresses, parents’ names, and employment history. Mizoram has provided shelter to displaced tribals following ethnic violence in neighboring Manipur. The refugees share ethnic and cultural affinities with Mizoram’s Mizo community, with Myanmar’s Chin state sharing a border with several Mizoram districts.
