Chin State, located in northwestern Myanmar, is home to the Chin people, an ethnically diverse group of Sino-Tibetan origin. This mountainous region borders northeastern India and parts of Bangladesh, housing around 500,000 Chin, with significant numbers residing in neighboring Sagaing and abroad as refugees in India, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States. The Chin are not a homogenous group; they include sub-ethnic groups such as the Asho, Cho, Khumi, Kuki, Laimi, Lushai, and Zomi, each with distinct languages from the Tibeto-Burman family. Historically, the Chin have been a mountain-dwelling people, with over 85% identifying as Christians—a demographic similarity to the Kachin people in Myanmar.
The Chin were among the ethnic groups that signed the 1947 Panglong Agreement, which promised a federal structure for Burma. This promise was unfulfilled, leading to discontent and a civil war after the 1962 coup by General Ne Win. For decades, the Chin people have faced systemic discrimination and human rights abuses under military rule. Forced labor, arbitrary arrests, and torture have plagued the population since the 1990s. Forced labor, in particular, disrupted farming and deprived families of food, healthcare, and education, driving many into debt or forcing them to flee the country. Christian Chin have also endured religious persecution, including bans on worship, forced evictions, and threats of violence.
Chin State remains Myanmar’s poorest and least developed region, systematically excluded from national development programs and infrastructure upgrades. This neglect has further driven its residents to migrate or seek asylum abroad. The military coup of February 2021 brought intensified challenges but also mobilized Chin resistance. Thousands of young Chin abandoned their jobs and studies to join the revolution, embracing civilian disobedience movements to undermine military control. Professionals, including teachers, doctors, and civil servants, returned to Chin State to establish schools, clinics, and local governance in areas liberated from military control. Resistance groups like the Chin Defence Forces (CDF) and the People’s Defence Forces (PDF) emerged to protect these territories.
However, the military’s response has been devastating. Relentless airstrikes, artillery bombardments, and village raids have killed and displaced countless civilians. Iconic of this destruction is Thantlang, a once-thriving town of 10,000 residents, now reduced to rubble by sustained military assaults since September 2021. The entire population has fled, with the town split between resistance forces and junta troops supported by helicopters and airstrikes.
Humanitarian access to Chin State is severely limited. The rugged geography, absence of roads, and military checkpoints block critical aid deliveries. These challenges exacerbate the suffering of displaced populations, leaving many without basic necessities. Amid ongoing conflict, Chin State remains mired in poverty and devastation, its people bearing the brunt of systemic neglect and relentless military aggression.
The Chin’s struggle exemplifies Myanmar’s broader crisis, highlighting the resilience of communities fighting for autonomy against a backdrop of oppression and warfare. Yet, without international attention and aid, the humanitarian catastrophe in Chin State will only deepen.
Women new recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) undergoing a lenghty training before integrating supporting functions within the CNA. Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Hrankhan IDP camp for displaced people from Thantlang town. Hrankhan village in Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
70 years old grandmother of the Thluang Bik family in Saopun village in Thantlang township. Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
New recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) doing physical exercises during their lenghty training before integrating the CNA. The ever increasing air strikes and forced military service enacted by the military dictatorship, has substantially increased the number of people that engage and seek refuge with the ethnic armed groups opposing the military coup leaders. CNA HQ, Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin Defense Forces (CDF) outpost in Thantlang. Vui Chip CDF outpost, Thantlang, Myanmar, April 2024
Thantlang, a town of 12,000 before the war is now completely evacuated of its civilian population. The town has been completely destroyed and mostly burned to the ground. Until this day the town is divided between a Myanmar military conrolled part and the other half controlled by the Chin Defense Forces (CDF). Merely a couple of hundred meters separates them downtown. Some of the most violent and intensive combats in Chin State are taking place to this date in Thantlang. CDF positions in a hospital buiding on the frontline. Thantlang downtown, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Pamsang, 29 years, is from Matupi in Chin State in Myanmar and was a civilian victim of an airstrike on her house. The military dictatorship carried out airstrikes on 15 November 2023 in Wanglu village near Matupi. Her 3 children, husband and bother in law died instantly. That day 11 people died in the village, mainly young children. She was treated for severe head and leg wounds in hospitals in Mindat and Mandalay before making her way to Aizawl in India for further surgery. Now in New Delhi for eye surgery as she is totally blind since the airstrike. Her right eye is lost and a marginal sight recovery on the left eye has occured since the eye surgery. The military regime in Myanmar has systematically used air strikes on civilian populations, schools and medical facilities without any military goal except traumatising the population and committing relentless unpunished war crimes. Chin community safe house in New Delhi, India, May 2024
Prisoners of war (POW) bathing and washing their clothes in the river. Contrary to the Myanmar military that executes prisoners the Chin National Army provides them shelter and food and follows the Geneva conventions related to POW. Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Patients waiting at the outpatient ward of a military hospital in Chin State. Beside combatants of the Chin National Army, many civilians are being treated at the hospital. Being one of few functioning hospital in Chin State, people do often travel 2-3 days before reaching it. Chinlung in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Inpatient ward of the Chin National Army (CNA) military hospital. Civilians and soldiers are being treated in what is now the largest operational hospital in Chin controlled territory. Camp Victoria in Chinlung, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Member of the Chin National Army, Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin National Army (CNA) recruits starting their training before they will integrate their units. CNA HQ Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
CNA new recruits undergoing military training. The recruits under 18, often orphans, will after their training be assigned to non-combat function within the HQ and continue learning a specialisation until the age of 18. Chin National Army HQ, Chinlung in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Tham Nay and Shing Om (in the background), are both 19 years old and from Mindat in Chin State of Myanmar. Both were since the start of the revolution engaged with the resistance forces in Chin and Magway regions. In October 2023 they stepped on a mine and had their right lig amputated. It took nearly 2 weeks to have them evacuated towards a proper hospital in India. They are now in New Delhi where they have entered a program to receive a prothesis, soon they will return to Myanmar and continue to support the revolution albeit in another role than as combatants. Chin community safehouse in New Delhi, India, April 2024
Prisoners of war (POW) bathing and washing their clothes in the river. Contrary to the Myanmar military that executes prisoners the Chin National Army provides them shelter and food and follows the Geneva conventions related to POW. Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
New recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) doing physical exercises during their lenghty training before integrating the CNA. The ever increasing air strikes and forced military service enacted by the military dictatorship, has substantially increased the number of people that engage and seek refuge with the ethnic armed groups opposing the military coup leaders. CNA HQ, Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Member of the Chin Defense Forces (CDF) in front of a bunker near the frontline. Vui Chip CDF outpost, Thantlang, Myanmar, April 2024
Salen IDP camp, the largest in Chin State, hosting more than 650 people from Thantlang, Kalay and Matupi. Salen, Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin boy living in a camp for internally displaced persons from Chin. Salen IDP camp, Thantlang township, Myanmar, April 2024
New recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) doing physical exercises during their lenghty training before integrating the CNA. The ever increasing air strikes and forced military service enacted by the military dictatorship, has substantially increased the number of people that engage and seek refuge with the ethnic armed groups opposing the military coup leaders. CNA HQ, Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Women new recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) doing physical exercises during their training before integrating supporting functions within the CNA. Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Prisoners of war (POW) captured during recent operations in Chin State. Contrary to the Myanmar military that executes prisoners the Chin National Army provides them shelter and food and follows the Geneva conventions related to POW. Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin village of Salen in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
New recruits for the Chin National Army (CNA) doing physical exercises during their lenghty training before integrating the CNA. The ever increasing air strikes and forced military service enacted by the military dictatorship, has substantially increased the number of people that engage and seek refuge with the ethnic armed groups opposing the military coup leaders. CNA HQ, Camp Victoria in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin National Army (CNA) trainees. CNA HQ, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Land clearing for agriculture, causing frequent landslides and dust storms. Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Traditional Chin house with fire wood reserves. Salen village, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin National Army (CNA) new recruits training. CNA HQ in Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Hrankhan IDP camp for displaced people from Thantlang town. Hrankhan village in Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin National Army (CNA) and Chin Defense Forces (CDF) positions in a school on the frontline facing the Myanmar military a couple of hundred meters away. Thantlang downtown, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Thantlang, a town of 12,000 before the war is now completely evacuated of its civilian population. The town has been completely destroyed and mostly burned to the ground. Until this day the town is divided between a Myanmar military conrolled part and the other half controlled by the Chin Defense Forces. Merely a couple of hundred meters separates them downtown. Some of the most violent and intensive combats in Chin State are taking place to this date in Thantlang. Thantlang frontline, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Production of uniforms for the Chin National Army (CNA). CNA HQ, Camp Victoria, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin village in Chin State. Salen in Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, April 2024
Chin National Army (CNA) soldier in a safehouse in Mizoram where at present 22 injured soldiers stay for futher treatment and surgery following amputations on the battlefield. CNA safehouse in Aizawl, Mizoram, India, April 2024
