“I just ran away from my house just to escape from horrifying incident of arson carried out by armed miscreants. Forget about bringing things, I didn’t even close the door of my house when I left for safer place. But now nothing can alter my strong desire to go back home,” said one of the displaced women, Naobicha Saleibam from Moreh Ward Number 7.
The ongoing Kuki-Meitei conflict in Manipur has crossed more than three months. Over 50,000 people have been displaced since tension was erupted in the state on May 3. The displaced are taking shelter in relief camps set up in more than 350 places.
To make sure that the camps does not face any kind of shortage, relief materials are being donated from every locality in the state to augment the sparse support coming from the government. But just like “home is where the heart is”, the eagerness of the displaced to go back to their original land is inexhaustible.
It is obvious that all the displaced people underwent different forms of unbearable pains caused by damages of their properties and livelihoods. But the emotional pain of rupture of their social ties with their hometown hometown is unmatched. But in case of Naobicha Saleibam, death of her husband during their displacement doubled her pain and sorrow.
“My husband has been suffering from jaundice but not so critical. I used to take care of his health every time so that his health condition may not deteriorate. As his illness is mild, he used to go for work every day without any break. If you see him, you wouldn’t believe that he is suffering from jaundice. But when arson erupted all of sudden in our Moreh town on May 3 at around 5.30 pm, along with my husband and three children, we fled from our place with fear. As life is more important than anything, we didn’t bring anything even my husband’s medicine,” Naobicha who is staying at relief camp opened at Ideal College Akampat, recalled with teary eyes.
She informed that initially they take shelter in army camp where her husband started falling ill. Not getting proper dietary food that jaundice patient used to consume and giving medication had resulted to worsened the condition of her husband. Above this, her husband was emotionally down with incident of burning of their house and vehicle.
“Food provided in army camp is not suitable to my husband. Medicine was also not available and he is completely break down with information of damaging all our property. All these are the factors to deteriorate his health condition and succumbed on May 12 despite putting all effort to save him. Had this present crisis was not occurred, my husband will still alive,” she lamented.
Stating about her life in relief camp, Naobicha extended his heartfelt gratitude to people who are running relief camp of Ideal College Relief Camp and those who are extending materials etc. Naobicha shared that after shifting from one place to another, her family member finally reached to present relief camp on May 10.
“No dearth of shortage of anything in relief. The organisers are so supportive. But how long we can sustain like this in standstill condition. I really would like to go back home and start my life there. The state government should provide adequate security for our safety,” she demanded and sought for support from state government for her survival as her husband was breadwinner of the family.
Another displaced woman from Napat under Bishnupur district presently taking shelter in Mangjing under Kakching district, Tombisana said that it has been almost three months just staying idle in relief camp remembering all the horrific incident. Returning back to good old days has become her only wish longing for.
“My house at Napat was also completely burned down by miscreant. Nothing left but my wish to live together with my husband, children, I really wanted to go back home. Most of people in Napat are economically backward and majority are farmers. Staying here in relief camp couldn’t make any income though there is no shortage of food and material. I would like to start my previous self-reliant life,” she added while urging state government to extend their all effort to find amicable solution of present crisis.
There is no television, newspaper in my camp except one radio to entertain ourselves. Their heart and mind are fully occupied with trauma driven by present unrest, however they used to amuse chatting and sharing those cherish moments or life. Yet this couldn’t bring a satisfactory life until and unless, they began normal life in their original homeland, she added.
She also praised state government for constructing prefabricated houses for displaced people but also requested for arrangement of returning them home under the condition of providing proper security measure.
The writer is an award winning reporter
