Christians are bringing relief to some 1,500 Naga tribal people who fled violence near their homes in Manipur state and took refuge in neighboring Nagaland.
They had reportedly become targets for violence from police and paramilitary groups. Two students were shot and killed by police there on May 6.
“Many of them ran away with just the clothes they had on,” Father Nirappel Kuriacko Abraham, parish priest of St Francis De Sales parish in Nagaland capital Kohima said.
His parish donated money, clothes and rice.
“Fortunately, many Christians came forward, donating generously” to help the refugees said Susan Mao, a parishioner of St. Mary’s cathedral parish in Kohima.
“It is no joke cooking for 500 people in one camp. It is like organizing a wedding party every day.”
The displaced people, mostly women and children, live in several relief camps.
Naga groups in Manipur and neighboring Nagaland state have blocked two national highways to Manipur since April 11 in disputes over an election.
The blockade was intensified after Manipur blocked Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah from visiting his birthplace in Manipur.
Cathedral parish priest Father K.C. James, said his parishioners donated 6,560 rupees, two bags of rice, besides clothes and vegetables.
Students of St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama, where one of the victims of the police shooting studied, donated 12,000 rupees (US$265).
Asosu Kayina, living in a relief camp said she and her fellow refugees want to go home “because this is the sowing season” but they fear further violence, she said.
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