PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA
GENEVA
65th Session of the Executive Committee of UNHCR
[29 September-3 October 2014]

Statement by India during the General Debate  

Mr. Chairman, 

We thank the High Commissioner for his statement underlining the critical and complex nature of humanitarian emergencies and protracted refugee and other humanitarian situations world over, and the response of the UNHCR. We commend High Commissioner’s lead role and vision in addressing these challenges. We also express our gratitude to UNHCR’s staff, both at Headquarters and in the field, in implementing the mandate of UNHCR under very challenging and difficult circumstances.

My delegation takes this opportunity to welcome the new members to the Executive Committee, and my delegation looks forward to work with them closely.

Mr. Chairman,

India is deeply concerned with the growing instability and violence in different regions of the world, which has resulted in large number of people turning as refugees and asylum seekers. The High Commissioner pointed out that almost nine out of ten refugees are living in developing countries, up from 70% ten years ago.  The enormous contribution of developing countries in hosting refugees as part of fulfilling their voluntary humanitarian obligations, often risking their fragile economies in many cases, needs sufficient recognition and commendation in our deliberations. We thank the High Commissioner for highlighting this dimension in his Statement.

Mr. Chairman,

It is quite disturbing to note that at the end of year 2013, the number of people displaced due to conflict and persecution has gone up to 51 million. In past year UNHCR responded to five system-wide Level 3 emergencies in Syria, Philippines, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Iraq. We note High Commissioner’s concern that such emergency responses to new and grave humanitarian challenges is compelling the UNHCR to divert its manpower and resources from addressing its core mandate.
   
We note UNHCR’s efforts with satisfaction to create partnership with development actors, to develop solutions for humanitarian and development actions, among others including skills up-gradation and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. Moreover, helping host nations based on their request in registration of birth, immunization of children, providing access to primary education etc. are praiseworthy.

We also note that in the proposed budget for 2015, there is a decline in the estimated fund requirement from 18.4% to 16.3% for the IDPs and increase in requirement for refugee programme from 75.8% to 78.1%. We believe that the UNHCR should continue to move towards paying greater attention to its core mandate on taking care of the refugees, as compared to the other Persons of Concern. We continue to point that the limited resources of UNHCR should primarily focus on refugees, which is the core mandate of the Agency.

 Mr. Chairman,

Dealing with refugees has always been a priority for India and we stand steadfast in our commitment to provide humanitarianism assistance to them. We continue to host a large number of refugees and our programmes for them are managed entirely from within our own resources. Our protection regime is based on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and other relevant legal provisions. We have time and again demonstrated our abiding commitment to the principles of protection and non-refoulement. India continues to further refine its administrative mechanisms for providing greater hospitality to refugees during their stay in the country.

We are pleased with the ongoing engagement of UNHCR in India in dealing with urban refugees, particularly from our neighbouring countries. The High-level Bilateral Consultations between the Government of India and the High Commissioner has proved to be a useful platform for exchanges of views on bilateral as well as regional and international humanitarian situations. We look forward to its next meeting later this year.

 Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, we wish to reiterate our commitment in cooperating with the global community and UNHCR, through productive dialogue and implementation of programmes for the benefit of refugees. We look forward to a fruitful outcome of the deliberations of the 65th Executive Committee.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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