Over 100 Chin refugees protest on World Refugee Day in Delhi

Delhi, 22 June 2014 – More than 100 Chin refugees protested in front of the UNHCR Office in Delhi, India on Friday, demanding legal protection and services in the Indian city.

The rally, organized by the Delhi Chin Community Fellowship, marking the 63rd anniversary of World Refugee Day, called on the UN’s refugee agency to improve services given to refugees in Delhi.

DCCF President Tin Duh Thang said: “Under the limited services of the UNHCR and lack of legal protection by the Indian government, we are subjected to all kinds of hardships for survival, discrimination, exploitation, physical assault, rape and sexual harassment.”

Mr. Thang, accompanied by two interpreters, was eventually allowed to meet with UNHCR officials after making requests and convincing the police that they were not there to make violence but to let their situation be known.

During the meeting, he urged the UNHCR to provide better security and safety services for refugee women and children, and also raised other issues including education and healh care facilities.

The UNHCR said that all their demands would be considered and that they would have a meeting with leaders of the Chin refugee communities in the near future.

Currently, it is estimated that there are about 8,000 Chin refugees in Delhi.#