Imphal, Sept 6: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has sounded a fresh alarm over the growing influx of refugees from Myanmar, citing the latest report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that places the number of Myanmar nationals entering India since 2021 at approximately 64,300.

Singh, who has long voiced concerns over unchecked migration from the neighbouring country, said the situation could spiral out of control if not addressed with urgency. “When I warned about this long ago, very few paid attention, including my colleagues,” he said in a statement posted on social media. “The unofficial numbers could be much higher, even multiple times more. We cannot afford to sit idle.”

The UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific revealed that since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, tens of thousands have sought refuge in India — with the majority settling in the border states of Mizoram and Manipur. About 6,800 individuals are registered with UNHCR in New Delhi alone.

Recent intensification of fighting in Myanmar’s Chin and Sagaing regions has led to fresh waves of displacement, particularly into Mizoram, already home to thousands of refugees. The situation has been further aggravated by Cyclone Remal, which struck earlier this year, worsening conditions in already vulnerable border areas and increasing the demand for food, shelter, healthcare, and sanitation.

In Manipur, authorities have reported identifying at least 5,800 undocumented Myanmar nationals in Kamjong district, with biometric data collected from over 5,100 of them. In May, the state government confirmed the deportation of 360 individuals, while deploying special monitoring teams in five border districts to monitor and manage new arrivals.

Despite the state’s security-oriented stance, opposition parties and civil society organisations have urged a more humanitarian approach, highlighting India’s long-standing tradition of providing refuge to persecuted communities. They argue that while border management is essential, compassion and international legal obligations should guide the treatment of those fleeing conflict.

The broader regional situation remains dire. The UNHCR estimates that over 2.8 million people are internally displaced within Myanmar, while more than 1.1 million have fled to neighbouring countries, including Thailand, Bangladesh, and India.