India - Socio-economic study of impact of corona virus pandemic on refugees and asylum seekers, 2020

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, along with the preventive measures designed to slow its spread, are putting great stress on India's economy, and affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, including refugees across the country. To determine the exact social and economic consequences of the crisis, UNDP and UNICEF, are working under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinators, and in close collaboration with specialized UN agencies, to assess the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable communities. UNHCR led the socio economic impact assessment for refugee population in India. The assessment was conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and in partnership with BOSCO.

As of June 2020, 40,068 refugees and asylum seekers from different nationalities are registered with UNHCR in India (28,053 refugees and 12,015 asylum seekers). Approximately 51% of the population registered with UNHCR lives in Delhi NCR, the remaining population live throughout the country, with bigger groups in Hyderabad, Jammu and Mewat. Rohingya are the largest group of persons of concern to UNHCR in India with 17,772 persons, followed by Afghans (15,806 persons). Of the total population registered with UNHCR, 47% are women and girls while 16% are persons with specific needs.

The survival mechanism for most of the refugees and asylum seekers is mainly based on a daily income that is immensely challenged with the ongoing lockdown and restriction of movement introduced by the central and state governments. These restrictions make it impossible for asylum seekers and refugees to reach the location of their informal employment or daily income generating activities, or to receive customers for their goods and services. Their income and possible savings have dried up leaving them with no means to adequately provide for their families, including in the areas of food, shelter and medicine