More than 30 families from Chin state, western Burma, recently fled to neighboring Mizoram in northeast India because of the on-going famine.

A villager in Wadaingkung, Mr. Khin Oo, who made the village census list, said that more than 170 people shifted to Mizoram last June and July from 15 villages having 36 families in Paletwa Township, southern Chin state to escape the famine.

“Cultivation has not succeeded because of bamboo flowering and multiplication of rats, which eat the flowers. The rats destroyed all our plants leaving us with no crops,” he added.

Mr. Khin Oo and 15 families shifted to Mizoram state. From their neighboring villagers about 20 people accompanied them. Most of the refugees are staying in Saiha and Lawngtlai district in southern Mizoram state. They are working as casual laborers.

“Other villagers in Paletwa Township also wanted to accompany us when we left. They are sure to follow soon as there are no jobs, no food and no support from any quarter. There is nothing they can do there,” he told Khonumthung News.

Villagers who have shifted to Mizoram belong to Vadaingkung, Wati, Seihsongkung, Valaungkung, Akikung, Taingwa, Tintaungwa, Sanpiah, Athongkung, Sami, Laungzawkung, Michaungwa, and Drawwa of Paletwa Township . There is no confirmation from other townships.

The natural phenomena of bamboo flowering leads to destruction of crops by rats, causing famine. Records with the Paletwa Natural Trouble Helping Group (2008-2009) reveals that 13,610 acres of cultivated land has been destroyed. The cultivators have lost a total of 99,028 tins of rice in Paletwa Township . Similarly, 4,361 out of 7,150 of peanut (oil-seeds) land have been destroyed. A total of 2, 74,816 tins of oil-seed have also been lost in the famine.