Operations

Operational context and population trends

The number of refugees and asylum-seekers under UNHCR’s mandate in India continued to increase, rising from 30,939 people of concern in 2014 to 33,273 as of 1 November 2015. India hosts the following main population groups:

• Approximately 110,000 Tibetans and 65,000 Sri Lankans recognized and assisted by the Government of India
• 33,273 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR, the majority of which originate from Myanmar (56 %) and Afghanistan (38 %). 

Of the new arrivals from Myanmar, most are Rohingya; Chin arrivals, by contrast, have continued to decrease, and now constitute less than 5 % of new arrivals. The number of registered new arrivals from countries other than Myanmar and Afghanistan, such as Yemen, Somalia and Iraq, is also on the rise.  

All refugees have access to government services, such as health care, education and birth registration and documentation.
 
Key priorities in 2016

Despite the increasing number of refugees residing in India, available resources have decreased substantially. As a result, the vast needs of new arrivals living outside Delhi will not be fully addressed in 2016 if additional funding is not secured. 

In 2016, UNHCR will continue to consolidate and reorient its protection and assistance programme in Delhi. The programme will be scaled down to a few locations and will target mainly new arrivals and people with specific needs. 

Existing programmes in Delhi such as bridge/tuition classes and day-care facilities, currently provided through partners, will be gradually reduced. Instead, UNHCR will focus on promoting and securing access to government and civil society services available to the urban poor and building and strengthening community capacities to meet their own basic needs.