Uncertain Future for Displaced Families in Manipur
Thousands of people displaced by ethnic clashes in India's north-eastern state of Manipur two years ago face an uncertain future as the government plans to shut down all temporary relief camps by December.
The violence, which erupted in May 2023 between the majority Meitei and the indigenous Kuki communities, was the worst the region had witnessed in decades. It started after protests by the Kuki community against the Meiteis who were demanding official tribal status that would grant them access to the same government benefits and job quotas as other tribes, including Kukis.
- At least 260 people were killed in the clashes
- Around 60,000 displaced people have since been living in temporary shelters
Many say their lives remain in a limbo - effectively homeless and without a steady source of income, as the government has made repeated promises to rehabilitate the displaced, but little has changed on the ground.
Can't go back
Author's summary: Families in Manipur face uncertain future.