Myanmar Refugees on Hunger Strike in Assam Transit Camp

Rohingya and Chin refugees from Myanmar, housed in Goalpara’s Matia transit camp, have been on a hunger strike since Monday, protesting their extended detention. They demand transfer to the UNHCR in New Delhi, relocation to a detention center in the capital, and resettlement in a third country.

Officials, including the Inspector General of Prisons and Home Secretary, have been sent to the camp for negotiations. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been informed of the situation.

The Supreme Court has also ordered the Assam government to submit a deportation plan for 211 foreign nationals currently in the camp, following concerns about poor conditions in detention centers.