Relief in the Midst of Unrest
One of the villages in Manipur that has been burned down in the violence between the Kuki and Meitei tribes
Because of the unrest in Manipur, many villages have been completely burned to the ground. As a result, large populations of people are now in camps with only what they could carry. Because of travel restrictions, it’s very very difficult to get aid to them. However, Awor was able to get a large amount of aid delivered.
Awor was able to collect contributions from Faith Community Church (the house church we helped start when we lived in India) and from the IMB and get an entire truckload of supplies, which included: pillows, blankets, bed sheets, sleeping mats, towels, mosquito nets, inner wear and outer wear for man and women, tarps for 250 families, antibiotics, painkillers, multi vitamins, 25 kilo bags of rice, 2kilo bags Dahl, oil, sugar, salt, flannel cloth, baby blankets, and 1000 Rs notes. There were enough supplies for 250 families i9n 5 relief campsas a reminder that God loves them and hasn’t abandoned them and they’re loved by others.
People in a relief camp receiving prayer before receiving care packages
Because of the prohibition on travel in the state, the police commissioner had to give special permission. Even, with this, the Nagaland police at the border checkpoint stopped the truck wouldn’t acknowledge the letter or permit entry. Fortunately a call to a friend who knew someone in the police administration in Nagaland resulted in a call the checkpoint police. They were only stopped for about 10 mins.
There were many stories from people who received packages. One young lady told how she gave birth while they were on the run in the jungle. They walked for 2 days afterwards before reaching a Tangkhul village (Awor is from the Tagkhul tribe) where they gave a bath to her and the baby and were able to get them moved to a relief camp.
Care packages for distribution at the relief camp at Keithelmanbi Govt. High School in Kangpokpi
In the first relief camp there were 6 pregnant ladies expecting within a month and 4 newborn babies. In one of the relief camps, there was an older lady who was left to die in the jungle. She didn’t have the strength to continue and her family didn’t have the strength to carry her. They left her under a tree hoping they’d be able to come back for her, but uncertain how far they still had to go to find help. They continued more than a day further. Fortunately after they reached a relief camp, they were able to get nourishment and go back for her. She was still alive and they were able to bring her back safely to the camp.
Some met Awor in Dimapur. Told him we can’t do DMM right away, but asked how the community can be blessed in times like this. Relief material isn’t needed since muslims aren’t really affected. Medical camp will be a good start. Can also be doing prayer walks. Because of conflict, there’s not much travel available. Also govt. people posted in rural areas have fled those areas, so there’s not much resources. Going to try to do that.
Yairipok is the name of grounds where we saw there’s a weekly market. There are many Pangan villages around this market. It seems like if we can get a medical camp organized there that it would be a great help to the families in these villages since travel to the cities where there is medical care is hampered. Further more, many of the people posted in government medical facilities in Manipur have fled back to the home states until tensions settle.
Please keep praying for Somi who is continuing to build relationships with families in Pangan villages and praying for people as they are open.
