Afghanistan’s Refugees in India suffer inhumane conditions, rights group warns
A rights group reports that Afghanistan’s refugees in India are living without legal protection, basic services, or dignity, enduring harsh conditions and prolonged uncertainty.
Dozens of Afghan asylum seekers who fled to India due to threats in their homeland are staging a protest outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in New Delhi, demanding urgent action on their deteriorating situation.
According to the Afghanistan Human Rights Defenders Committee, the protest—now in its sixth day—has been driven by frustration over what they describe as “harsh and inhumane conditions” in India. Many of the protesters have lived in the country for years without access to permanent residency, legal employment, formal education for their children, or adequate healthcare.
In a statement released Tuesday, the committee condemned the prolonged delays in the refugee status determination process, calling it a “painful and exhausting ordeal.” Thousands of Afghan applicants, it said, remain stuck in legal limbo while waiting for their cases to be processed by UNHCR.
The demonstrators, holding placards that read “Delays in refugee registration equal suspended lives”, are urging UNHCR to accelerate case reviews and resume basic assistance programs that have been discontinued. Despite their ongoing protest, they report receiving no official response from the UN agency.
Adding to their concerns, the protesters allege that they have faced “humiliating and intimidating behavior” by Indian police during their sit-in, which they say further jeopardizes their safety and dignity.
The asylum seekers are now calling on international organizations, particularly UNHCR, to immediately resume food, medical, financial, and educational support. They are also appealing for swift resettlement opportunities and the deployment of independent observers to monitor how refugees are treated by local authorities.
“These refugees did not flee Afghanistan to endure suffering and humiliation under global neglect,” the committee stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of displacement compounded by bureaucratic delays and lack of protection.
This protest highlights broader concerns over the treatment of displaced populations globally, and the urgent need for host countries and international agencies to respond to vulnerable communities with speed, transparency, and compassion.
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