"The humanitarian crisis in Assam is on the scale of a tsunami" denounces a tribal Catholic priest, speaking to AsiaNews on the condition of anonymity, about the violence that has erupted between Bodo tribals and Muslim settlers in the districts of Kokajhar and Chirang. According to authorities, the death toll now stands at 32, with 170 thousand people who have fled their homes. Government and police have set up refugee camps to house the fleeing people and treat the wounded.
The priest is an ethnic Bodo, and is in the town of Kokrajhar to provide support and assistance to both communities. "The reality of things - he explains - is much, much worse than what has been shown by the local media. Televisions depict scenes of destruction, where the only victims are Muslims. But this is nothing compared to what they the tribals are experiencing."
The Bodo tribals are the indigenous people of these areas of Assam. Today, however, the priest says, "there is an imbalance between the indigenous population and Muslims. The tribals have become a minority, the Muslims have occupied their lands, appropriated thanks to the connivance of local authorities, relegating the Bodo to conditions of poverty and marginalization. "
As a result, he adds, "about 70% of tribal families no longer have any land, although 90% of this population survive from agriculture. Small plots can not guarantee the survival of all these people. The result is that half suffer hunger. "
"The suffering of the people - he says - is really intense, their eyes are desperate, they can not see any future. They have lost everything: houses, land, farms, crops ... everything has been looted and destroyed by Muslim migrants. It's like this everywhere, even in areas where Muslims are a minority. "
In this dramatic situation, the Catholic Church has set up other camps. "Here - said the priest - we welcome everyone, Muslims and tribals. We hope to reach as many people as possible, and to be able to build bridges of peace and understanding."