Chin refugees in India say that they are facing severe food shortages following a nationwide lockdown imposed by the government in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The lockdown has been in place since March 24.

Salai Cung Dawt, who is in charge of the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), said that donors have contributed 14 bags of rice to assist refugees who are struggling to find food.

“Thirty-one people from 11 families have nothing to eat. They told me they are starving. I wrote about it on my social media page. Some people living in New Delhi contributed donations, so we got 14 bags of rice for them,” he told Khonumthung News.

Non-governmental organizations have not been helping the Chin refugees, the CHRO head added, but the UN refugee agency in New Delhi has pledged support.

“Some Chin refugees haven’t had rice to cook in recent days. The UN agency has pledged to help these refugees. They are collecting a list of the refugee population,” Salai Cung Dawt said.

There are around 500 families who have said that they need support.

Nearly 3,000 Chin refugees are registered with the UNHCR in New Delhi, and the majority of them have UN-recognized refugee status documentation.