India

Operational context

Although not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Government of India provided protection and assistance to refugees, including some 203,000 Sri Lankans and Tibetans in 2019. A further 40,000 refugees and asylum-seekers of other nationalities were registered with UNHCR in 2019.

2019 was marked by several major developments in India, including the abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and splitting of the latter state into two Union territories, and the release of the final National Register of Citizens  in Assam State, which found some 1.9 million people to be excluded at this stage, potentially putting them at risk of statelessness, pending exhaustion of administrative and judicial remedies. The situation of Rohingya refugees remained precarious, causing some to return to Myanmar.

Population trends

By the end of 2019, UNHCR had registered some 40,000 people of concern - some 27,700 refugees and 12,300 asylum-seekers. Rohingya refugees constituted the largest group (60%), followed by Afghans (27%). Around half of all registered people of concern in India lived in locations outside Delhi.

India also continued to host Sri Lankan refugees, including some 59,400 living in Government-managed camps and an additional 34,300 living outside of camps. UNHCR did not register these refugees but worked with the Governments of India and Sri Lanka to facilitate voluntary repatriation for those seeking to return. In 2019, UNHCR assisted nearly 1,000 Sri Lankans to return home and supported an additional 1,000 refugees of other nationalities to find durable solutions through resettlement and complementary pathways, facilitated or spontaneous return, or naturalization.

Achievements

• UNHCR strengthened refugees’ access to protection, assistance and information by introducing a free helpline.
• Though its advocacy, UNHCR increased children’s access to national education systems from 50% to 55% and ensured that 80% of people of concern had access to health care.
• Refugee social enterprises earned an overall income of INR 11.9 million through UNHCR’s livelihoods strategy and access to markets via the “MADE51” program.
• In order to raise awareness and strengthen advocacy on the risk of statelessness, UNHCR engaged with a range of stakeholders including civil society, academia, and the United Nations country team through lectures and roundtable discussions.

Unmet needs

• Rohingya refugees continued to live in unsanitary, often inaccessible conditions.
• Limited financial and human resources resulted in a long waiting period (over 300 days) between asylum-seekers being interviewed and receiving notification of first instance decisions.  
• Over 1,000 refugees and asylum-seekers were denied education, health care, skills development, labour market and child protection interventions due to funding limitations.
• Just over one-quarter (some 1,200) of people with specific needs obtained financial assistance, leaving the majority facing risks to their health, well-being and dignity.

Operational environment

While India has been a generous host to refugees for many years, particularly to Sri Lankans who continue to reside in Tamil Nadu, the past two years have been marked by a shrinking of the traditional protection space offered to urban refugees. In 2019, the opportunities for engaging the government on matters pertaining to refugee protection remain limited. Nevertheless, UNHCR continues to engage key government counterparts and collaborate closely with the full range of stakeholders, including newly identified partners.
 
In 2019, India will be hosting around 41,000 mandate refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR. Rohingya and Afghan refugees will constitute the largest refugee caseload under UNHCR’s mandate, with a smaller number from the Middle East and Africa mostly residing in urban areas.

Key priorities

In 2019, UNHCR will continue to work with the UN Country Team to ensure inclusion of refugee issues in the UN Sustainable Development Framework for 2018-22. As part of this process and with individual UN agencies, UNHCR will identify key areas of joint advocacy and programming wherever possible, to ensure inclusion of refugees into existing national systems. UNHCR will explore new opportunities for collaboration and coordination with national actors including authorities, NGOs, academics, lawyers, parliamentarians, and media to consolidate support for refugees and create a platform to influence public opinion and policy in favour of refugees.