Imphal, May 3: Three years after being displaced by the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, hundreds of families continue to live in relief camps in Imphal, grappling with uncertainty, poor living conditions, and fading hopes of returning home.
“For the last three years, we have been living in a relief camp and facing immense hardship. We want to go back to our homes. Our future feels dark here,” said Kh. Khamba, a resident of Moreh Bazar in Tengnoupal district, who fled during the violence on May 3, 2023.
Recalling the day, Khamba said tensions escalated rapidly in Moreh after a rally. “We had shut our shops and stayed indoors as we were preparing for puja. By evening, violence broke out—public property was vandalised, people were assaulted, and by night, houses were set on fire. We fled, and the police later evacuated us to Imphal,” he said.
Like many others, Khamba initially believed the displacement would be temporary. “We thought we would return in a few months once normalcy was restored. But even after three years, nothing has changed,” he added.
Displaced families are now spread across at least nine relief camps in Imphal, where residents say living conditions remain difficult.
Many complain of inadequate basic amenities, disrupted education for children, and lack of access to proper healthcare.
“Our children have no future here. Elderly people are dying without treatment. We are losing hope,” Khamba said, urging both the state and central governments to ensure their safe return and rehabilitation.
Robita Devi, another camp inmate, echoed similar concerns. “We have been struggling every day. There are no proper facilities, our studies have stopped, and we are facing severe financial problems,” she said.
With no clear timeline for resettlement, displaced families say their lives remain in limbo—caught between memories of home and an uncertain future in relief camps.
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