Afghanistan’s Refugees in India endure inhumane conditions, rights group warns
Afghanistan’s Refugees in India endure inhumane conditions, rights group warns
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Dozens of Afghan asylum seekers in India have been protesting outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in New Delhi for six days, demanding urgent action on their worsening conditions, Khaama Press reported.
The Afghanistan Human Rights Defenders Committee reports that these refugees face harsh living conditions without legal protection, access to permanent residency, legal employment, education for their children, or adequate healthcare.
The protesters criticize prolonged delays in the refugee status determination process by UNHCR, which has left thousands of Afghan applicants in legal limbo. They hold placards stating “Delays in refugee registration equal suspended lives” and urge the UN agency to speed up case reviews and resume discontinued assistance programs.
Additionally, the asylum seekers allege humiliating and intimidating treatment by Indian police during their sit-in, further threatening their dignity and safety. They call on international organizations to restore food, medical, financial, and educational support, and to provide resettlement opportunities.
The Afghanistan Human Rights Defenders Committee condemned the global neglect of Afghan refugees, emphasizing the emotional toll of displacement worsened by bureaucratic delays and lack of protection. This protest underscores the urgent need for compassionate responses to displaced populations worldwide.
