Chin Facebook Group to Raise Fund for Fire Victims in Matupi Township

12 April 2012: A Facebook discussion group called ‘Global Laimi’ says it will take responsibilities for raising awareness and fund to help those families affected by Thangping wildfire in Matupi Township in Chin State.

“Local villages in Thangping, whose rice storage had recently been burnt down to ashes, are now in difficult condition. Let’s make as much contribution as we can to help them,” said organizers of the Global Laimi in their appeal letter.

On 30 March 2012, about 1,800 tins (1 tin = 10.5kg) of rice stored outside of the village was razed to the ground by a wildfire in Thangping in southern parts of Chin State.

The local villager said: “We don’t know what to do really even though we want to help the villagers who have just lost all their stored rice.”

Organizers of the Global Laimi, with 1,182 members mostly in their youth, launched their appeal letter across Chin communities and discussion groups, urging them to take their parts in supporting the fire victims.

“If we don’t support each other, no one else would. This is the time we all have to stand together. Our nation and people need you and me. We will try to send any contributions received out to Thangping village by the end of April,” added the organizers.

Up to this date, the local government of Chin State has not taken any action in an attempt to address the ‘devastating’ situation facing the local villagers.

Meanwhile, more than 140 houses including school and church buildings have been hit by tropical storms in villages in Thantlang and Tedim townships, Chin State.

Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang
[email protected]