Over the last month, we\u2019ve been tracking the violence that has impacted the Christian community in Manipur State, India. The ethnoreligious conflict has largely been between the majority-Hindu Meitei ethnic group and the majority-Christian tribal communities, especially the Kuki people.<\/p>\n
However, even among the Meitei, the Christians have been aggressively targeted, showing there is a religious dimension to the violence that hasn\u2019t been acknowledged by many observers or media.<\/p>\n
The damage is extensive \u2013 more than 350 churches have been destroyed, burned down and vandalised. Thousands of Christian homes and properties were set on fire and destroyed. More than 100 people have died in the violence, and more than 30 000 believers are displaced from their homes, forced to flee to neighbouring states or into makeshift shelters.<\/p>\n
Even as the world\u2019s eyes have turned away from the situation, the tensions have continued. A Christian woman was killed while praying in her church on 12 June 2023. The following day, on 13 June, 11 people were killed in bomb attacks. The situation continues to be dangerous for God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough the mass burning of Christian property and churches have lessened, there are spurts of violence every so often, and the armed conflict remains active,\u201d<\/em> says Open Doors local partner, Anjali Lhing*. Sister Anjali was recently able to meet with affected believers in Manipur State. \u201cThere are tribal villages that are still being attacked on a daily basis. People have been displaced and killed, and villages are still being turned to dust.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMeitei Christians in the valley area are being forced to reconvert to Hinduism by the [Hindu extremist group] Arambai Tenggol; and if [they do not do] so, [the Christians can be] physically abused or killed. People who couldn\u2019t afford to flee out of the state are [in] hiding. Pastors and leaders are still on the run due to threats of reconversion and for their general safety.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Relief for devastated people<\/strong><\/p>\n In the past month, Open Doors local partners have worked with believers in Manipur State and the Christians forced to flee to neighbouring states. Our partners visited believers displaced by the violence, giving them urgent aid and relief \u2013 as well as a simple presence to provide prayer and emotional support. Open Doors is committed to both immediate and long-term aid for Christians who suffer persecution, and the situation in Manipur State is no different.<\/p>\n Thanks to the gifts and prayers of Open Doors supporters, our partners were able to help immediately with the most urgent needs. \u201cGrocery relief was what we provided first,\u201d<\/em> Sister Anjali says. \u201cThis included items like rice, dal, beans, potatoes, onions, cooking oil, toiletries, candles, buckets, and other necessities. This distribution was done among the internally displaced persons in schools, colleges and camps.\u201d<\/em> Because of your support, more than 350 relief packages have already been delivered, and hundreds more are in the process of being distributed across the various camps and areas impacted.<\/p>\n Open Doors partners found devastated people, reeling from the trauma they\u2019d experienced. \u201cWe came across people who are filled with fear and trauma,\u201d<\/em> Sister Anjali says. \u201cWe met innocent children who do not have a clue about the violence; we met families who have lost their loved ones; we heard mothers crying for their sons and men trying to stay strong to protect their families.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTrust has been lost among the people. It was hard for people to open up to us or even meet us. Some people came up inquiring about their loved ones and if we have come across any of them. Our hearts were overcome with emotion as we saw and listened to them. We, too, are in pain.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n One tribal believer described the situation to our partners. \u201cIt\u2019s a miracle that we tribals are alive,\u201d <\/em>says Dani*. \u201cWhen I remember the attack, I can\u2019t believe that the people who attacked us had guns and [advanced] weapons \u2013 and yet we were still saved. It\u2019s only God who can do this. We ran through the jungle, and it\u2019s been a month now. Please pray for our families. It\u2019s OK to lose our houses and things \u2013 but we want our families, children and women safe. There are terrible things happening. I want God to have mercy upon us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Seeing the trauma drove our partners to make sure they were able to provide prayer and encouragement.<\/p>\n \u201cMany people do not realise that they have been victims of persecution \u2013 they believe they are fighting for [government\/ethnic] status, but it truly is persecution because they have lost their freedom to worship, and their places of worship are being destroyed,\u201d<\/em> Sister Anjali explains.<\/p>\n \u201cWe prayed for them and assured them that the world of believers is praying for them, and we encouraged them from God\u2019s Word. We stood with them in prayer and look forward to continue being there for them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Thank you for coming <\/strong><\/p>\n And yet, hopelessness is not the only story. Even as the Christians from Manipur State expressed the pain of their situation, they also expressed thanksgiving \u2013 both to Open Doors supporters for the help and prayers, and to God, for protecting them. \u201cWe had to run with our children in the middle of the night to save our lives,\u201d<\/em> says one local believer. \u201cWe hid in the jungle for four days and didn\u2019t have food. Many of us have been shifted from camp to camp.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you for your help with groceries \u2013 with this, we can at least feed our children proper food. It\u2019s God who brings people like you, even in such fearful situations, just to help us. God bless you, people who have given this help. Please pray for us; we want the violence to end. We want peace and a normal life. We want our family back. Your support really means a lot to us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Your support of Open Doors also allows our partners to spend time in prayer with Christians in Manipur State. This kind of presence ministry is often more powerful than filling immediate needs, as vital as basic necessities are. It reminds Christians they aren\u2019t alone!<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for coming to our [region], when we see that people are only trying to escape from this land,\u201d<\/em> Kiminlong* told our local partners. \u201cYou took this risk just to come to help us, pray for us and understand our situation. I can\u2019t find greater love and brotherhood like this. We don\u2019t have anything. But at least we\u2019re alive, and that is because of God.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe also would\u2019ve been dead if God would have not saved us. But God has provided us with more. He has given us groceries, which is our need. It has given us hope. Something not just to fill our physical needs but a reason to believe in God and His people and His providence. Please pray for us. We need your help.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sister Anjali heard many of these stories and words first-hand. And she\u2019s seen how God is working among His people, even during the most difficult days of their lives. \u201cPeople are filled with rage, fear \u2026 some are feeling hopeless, and some are holding on to their faith,\u201d<\/em> she says. \u201cPeople have expressed that life is much more important than material things, and they are grateful to God. They are praying for the restoration of hearts and for the end of this violence.<\/em><\/p>\n