Cameroonian Refugees, Others Demonstrate in New Delhi Due to India’s Asylum Procedures and the Inaction of UNHCR
A notable group of Cameroonian refugees and asylum seekers held a protest on Monday outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in New Delhi. They were seeking clarification about their uncertain status in India. This demonstration, which included participants from other nationalities, shows the rising concern over India’s non-recognition of the 1951 Refugee Convention as well as the scope of UNHCR’s mandate concerning refugees and migrants in India.
Demonstrators expressed extreme dissatisfaction with reports claiming that Indian officials are forcibly deporting people, whether they have UN-issued documents or not. “They are asking why”, a close ally to the refugees shared, “because the Indian government says they don’t recognize the UN here, so police are deporting people with or without UN documents”.
The protesters charged UNHCR with failing to adequately comply with its obligations to protect and assist asylum seekers and refugees under its mandate. Some key listed complaints include:
Definite pathways for resettlement to third countries are absent. Considering employment opportunities exist such significant barriers have developed towards obtaining these positions that many live a life marked by poverty. Limited or no access to essential medical services. Refugee children are reportedly denied access to formal education, among others.
