Assam has World’s Highest Conflict Induced Internally Displaced Persons

Assam had the highest conflict induced Internally Displaced Persons in the world during the year 2014, according to a report prepared by Asian Centre for Human Rights and released in Guwahati on Friday. The report was prepared following field visits to the affected areas and claimed that there are over 3,00,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Assam, which is the highest in the world during 2014.

The displaced persons are currently reeling under a man-made humanitarian crisis in 85 relief camps in four districts of Assam — Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Chirang districts, ACHR’s director Suhas Chakma said. The IDPs, mainly Adivasis, have been fleeing their homes following the killing of over 80 Adivasis by the NDFB(S) on December 23, 2014 in Sonitpur, Kokrajhar and Chirang districts.

An ACHR team assisted by Adivasi civil society organisations visited the affected areas on December 27 and the team had limited access as curfew was imposed in Sonitpur and Udalguri districts. The police did not allow visit to interior places for security reasons. The team visited Jiagabharu High School Relief Camp, Hugrajuli Relief Camp and Tinisuti Relief Camp. ACHR urged the state government to fully extend humanitarian assistance to all displaced persons irrespective of whether their villages were directly attacked or not.

They also demanded rehabilitation of displaced persons by providing adequate assistance such as housing, food rations for six months and ensuring that no relief camp was forcibly closed down and inmates asked to leave. ACHR also called for adequate security to IDPs voluntarily willing to return to their villages.