The Chin region of Myanmar has been historically marginalized, leaving it the nation’s poorest and least developed area. Decades of neglect and military oppression have forced many Chin people to flee, forming diasporas in India, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States. Since the 1990s, they have suffered persecution, including forced labor, arrests, and torture, particularly impacting farmers. Christian Chin communities have faced targeted religious discrimination, with bans on gatherings, evictions, and even attacks on churches.
The 2021 military coup worsened the Chin people's plight. Many joined the civilian disobedience movement, forming resistance groups like the Chin Defence Forces (CDF) and People Defence Forces (PDF). These groups have provided vital services to displaced populations while striving for autonomy. However, the Myanmar military's brutal counterinsurgency has devastated the region, with airstrikes and bombardments targeting hospitals, schools, and camps for displaced people. Entire towns, such as Thantlang, have been destroyed, displacing thousands.
Chin State’s rugged terrain and poor infrastructure further hinder humanitarian aid, with military checkpoints and attacks on convoys exacerbating the crisis. Despite immense suffering, the Chin people's resilience underscores the need for international support to address their plight and uphold their rights.
Chin elderly woman, Tisenb village in Lautu region, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Bawntlang, Chin State, Myanmar. September 2022
Chin Defence Force (CDF) unit in an advanced mountain camp controlling access roads to the region. Lautu region, Chin State, Burma, September 2022
Transporting petrol in Tlangrua village near Thantlang. Being very isolated and under a de-facto embargo by the military, the population in Chin State has to use back roads to get supplies to the villages and towns that are under control of the Chin Defence Forces (CDF). Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
School in Leilet village in Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar, November 2022
Chin elderly, Hnaring in Lautu, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Member of the Chin Defence Forces (CDF). Tlangura village, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Hnaring baptist church sunday service. Lautu region, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Hnaring, the main town and administrative center of Lautu, a region in central Chin State and mid way between the north and the south of Chin. Myanmar, September 2022
Chin girl in Khuahrang, a village in the Lautu region of Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Check-point area in the Lautu region, Khuahrang area in Lautu region, Chin State, September 2022
Internal Displaces Persons (IDP) from Hakha being provided shelter in Lautu region in Chin State. Fanthen village, Lautu, Burma, September 2022
Lautu region in Chin State seen from Tisina village at an altitude of nearly 2,000 m. Lautu region in Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Information session for the population of Lautu region about the security situation and other general affairs. Members of the Chin Defence Forces (CDF) travel to all villages of the region to keep the population regularly updated of their activities. Tisena village, Lautu, Myanmar, September 2022
Chin elderly after church service, Hnaring in Lautu, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Tisena village in Lautu, a region in central Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Khuahrang village in the Lautu region, Chin, Burma, September 2022
IDP and former policeman from Hakha who joined the civil desobedience movement (CDM) and sought refuge in the Lautu region. Fanthem, Lautu, Myanmar, September 2022
Housing for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Khuahrang village in the Lautu region. Chin State, Burma, September 2022
Chin children following class in a school in Fanthem village in Lautu region. Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Tisena village in Lautu, a region in central Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Dar Lang 85 years old, IDP from Thantlang in September 2021 when the town of Thantlang was under fierce bombing and destroyed. The entire civilian population of the town fled and sought refuge in nearby villages and some of them in neighbouring India. Fanthem village in Lautu region, Burma, September 2022.
Football playing field in the village of Khuahrang in Lautu region, Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Thantlang town and the burnt church seen from the Chin Defence Forces (CDF) position in the mountains. Thantlang was burnt to the ground by Tatmadaw, the Burmese military in September 2021. The civilian Chin population fled and now the city is divided in two between the Chin Forces on one side and the Myanmar military in the area around their base. CDF positions overlooking Thantlang, Chin, Myanmar, September 2022
Sui Mang and her child in their temporary home in Thangaw village. Originally from Thantlang from where the entire civilian population had to flee as the town is on the frontline. Lautu region in Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Khuahrang village in the Lautu region, Chin, Burma, September 2022
Chin people going to work in the fields. Being a very isolated region with limited access it is crucial for the population to be self-sufficient for their nutritional needs. Khuahrang in the Lautu region, Chin, Burma, September 2022
Internal displaced persons and their children taking refuge in Leikang in Lautu region and relatively safe enough to host displaced persons from nearby front-line areas. Leikang, Lautu region in Chin, Myanmar, September 2022
Bawntlang, Chin State, Myanmar. September 2022
Internal Displaces Person (IDP) from Hakha being provided shelter in Lautu region in Chin State. Fanthen village, Lautu, Burma, September 2022
Lautu region seen from Hnaring the only town in the region. The region's villages are all at an altitude between 1,500 and 2,000m. Hnaring, Chin State, Burma, September 2022
Chin girl with Thanaka to protect the skin and widespread throughout Myanmar and all ethnicities. Khuahrang village in Lautu, Chin, Myanmar, September 2022
School in Leilet village in Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar, November 2022
Internal displaced person and his children taking refuge in Leikang in Lautu region and relatively safe enough to host displaced persons from nearby front-line areas. Leikang, Lautu region in Chin, Myanmar, September 2022
Workshop for weapons, mortar, mines and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). Since the military coup and the uprising of People Defence Forces (PDF) and minority armed resistance groups many artisanal weapon workshops are appearing in those PDF controlled areas. Because of its rudimentary character many fatal accidents occur while operating the improvised devices. Undisclosed location in Myanmar, September 2022
Children playing badminton before dark. Kulchah village in Zophay region of Chin State, Myanmar, September 2022
Hnaring, the main town and administrative center of Lautu, a region in central Chin State and mid way between the north and the south of Chin. Myanmar, September 2022
Thantlang town seen from the Chin Defence Forces (CDF) position in the mountains. Thantlang was burnt to the ground by Tatmadaw, the Burmese military in September 2021. The civilian Chin population fled and now the city is divided in two between the Chin Forces on one side and the Myanmar military in the area around their base. CDF positions overlooking Thantlang, Chin, Myanmar, September 2022
