COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE Response Highlight UNHCR INDIA June 2020 June 2020 World Refugee Day observed with along with UN agencies and Civil Society 1,566 food packages distributed to refugee, asylum seeker and host community families bringing the total number packages distributed to 10,317 1,225 families supported with toilet cleaners in bringing the total number of families supported soap or toilet cleaners to 8,899 93 individuals provided with phone counselling as part of remote outreach in June bringing the total individuals provided with phone counselling to 362 1,541 refugee and asylum seeker With the help of UNHCR partner Save the students have taken advantage Children, young refugee girl keeping of remote bridge, tuition, language occupied with drawing during COVID-19 and computer classes. Response Highlight Since late March this year, UNHCR operation in India is responding to the enormous humanitarian needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reaching out to refugees, asylum seekers as well as host community in a similar situation, these efforts have helped meet some of urgent needs of the community. These interventions compliment those of the Government of India, UN agencies, partner organisations and other NGOs. However, refugees and asylum seekers continue to face enormous challenges in meeting basic needs and continue to be in need of live-saving support. UNHCR is grateful for the timely donations both in cash and in- kind received in this period as we look ahead to continue in solidarity with those that need our assistance. UNHCR / India, June, 2020 1 FOOD Along with partners, UNHCR supported 107 Most refugees and asylum seekers (32 Male, 75 Females) refugees and asylum in India rely on a daily income for a seekers with accessing government living and due to the ongoing healthcare and medicines in June and situation and restriction of movement, they continues to monitor the same. have been left with no means to adequately provide for their families, particularly access to food. By the end of June, some 10,317 food packages consisting of dry ingredients were distributed to vulnerable families targeting a total of 7,404 families. Out of these families, 672 families were host community families living in a similar situation to foster peaceful coexistence. During this intervention 2,913 extremely vulnerable refugee and asylum seeker families were supported twice with food rations. UNHCR partner delivering assistance to vulnerable With the support of generous private refugees donors, UNHCR Partners and other NGOs have distributed around 7,112 food packages 1,225 refugees, asylum seekers and host to vulnerable refugee and asylum seeker community families have been supported families in 11 locations since March this with toilet cleaners in Delhi in June. Since year. Additionally, with the support of local the onset of the COVID-19 emergency, some administration, approximately 1,718 refugee 8,899 vulnerable refugee/asylum seekers and asylum seeker families were and host community families have supported with food assistance. received soaps or toilet cleaners. A UNHCR donor, Unilever (multinational company), is supporting UNHCR’s efforts WASH to enhance sanitation and hygiene through Health advisories from the the donation of 600,000 packets of 4 soaps Ministry of Health and Family (of 45-48 grams each) to help mitigate the Welfare WHO on COVID-19 spread of COVID-19 among refugee and host preparedness, prevention community settings in India. The soap will be and response to COVID-19 distributed equitably to refugees and and community messages communities hosting them. based on the same, including videos and audios were widely disseminated though varied EXTERNAL RELATIONS community structures. A total of 24 different messages, including five videos and 11 As a part of the “Give As You posters were translated in eight languages Take, This Time” campaign, spoken by refugees and asylum seekers for along with other organisations, their easy comprehension since the start of the 23,000 handmade masks have COVID-19 response. been produced by refugee women out of the target of 40,000 masks. Production of 9,000 of masks produced was supported by UNHCR / India, June, 2020 2 UNHCR INDIA COVID19 RESPONSE UPDATE UNHCR. These masks are being distributed for free to local administration, vulnerable host WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2020 community including vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. “On this World Refugee Day, I call for greater UNHCR India is supporting UNESCO global solidarity and action to include and MGIEP in its campaign #KindnessMatters support refugees, internally displaced and to collect stories of kindness and solidarity stateless people as well as their hosts. between refugees and host communities. Whoever you are. No matter where you come from. Every one of us can make a difference. Every action truly counts.” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the occasion of World Refugee Day 2020 UNHCR, together with UN and civil society observed the World Refugee Day with a main message “Everyone Can Make a Difference, Every Action Counts.” Some of events organised to increase awareness on this included webinars, live Refugee woman making hand-made face masks for free broadcasts covering music by refugee and distribution as part of “Give as you take, this time” asylum seekers, cooking, voices from the campaign. host communities and stories. PROTECTION An increasing number of refugees and asylum-seekers continuously reported current challenges faced by them due to loss of livelihoods. Such challenges include inability to pay rent, risk of eviction, difficulties to cover basic needs including food and medicines, problems in accessing alternative learning modalities for students, growing anxiety among community members, concerns about an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in India, uncertainty about the future and risk of possible negative coping Video message by UNHCR India Goodwill Ambassador mechanisms. They requested UNHCR and John Abraham on supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Click image to watch. 3 UNHCR INDIA COVID19 RESPONSE UPDATE This World Refugee different agencies also partners to extend additional support in the came together to share messages of form of food ration, hygienic and sanitary solidarity and support. items, other non-food items as well as cash assistance, which are currently available only to a limited number of vulnerable persons of concern, due to UNHCR’s limited budget and lack of additional funding. Desperate to make ends meet, an increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers are approaching the UNHCR office premises, daily. Apart from food and other basic necessities, the impending monsoons bring with it the need for additional support such as mosquito nets, particularly for Rohingya Message on World Refugee Day by Ms. Argentina Matavel refugees and asylum seekers. Piccin, Representative, United Nations Population Fund India & Country Director UNFPA Bhutan. Click image to watch. Video compilation of messages from host community who Mr. Bishow Parajuli, Representative and Country Director, live side by side refugees on the occasion of World Refugee World Food Programme, India shares a message on World Day. Click the image to watch. Refugee Day 2020 Click image to watch. In order to maintain and enhance communication with refugees and asylum seekers, UNHCR and its partners are using different communication modalities/channels such as telephone meetings with refugee community representatives and community groups, individual telephone counselling, follow-up through email and toll-free numbers. 2 remote meetings with 25 refugee community representatives (23 males, 02 females) were organized in June. During such interactions, all refugee leaders and Message by Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Representative, UNCEF participants requested expansion of cash India on World Refugee Day 2020 Click image to watch. assistance programme (especially to cover rent to prevent possible eviction and to support them to meet basic needs) and Click here to know more about the events requested continued food and non-food organized this World Refugee Day. item distribution. 4 UNHCR INDIA COVID19 RESPONSE UPDATE Through different modes of communications, place. UNHCR and partners continue to 10 remote meetings were held in line with follow-up on these incidents and provide the the Age, Gender Diversity Mainstreaming needed support. Principle with participation from 82 refugees and asylum seekers (52 males, 30 More than 619 phone calls through the toll- females) in June. Since the COVID-19 free number and another dedicated line response effort was initiated 93 community were attended in the month of June. They group meetings have been held. These highlighted increasing needs of cash meetings have contributed towards identifying assistance, support for rent payments, gaps in basic needs and protection issues to concerns of possible eviction, request for be addressed by UNHCR, partners or other linkages to livelihood opportunities, stakeholders. etc. Protection phone counselling was provided to 93 individuals, including 8 with specific protection and assistance needs, as part of remote outreach services. Email responses were sent to 30 persons regarding protection, assistance and durable solutions, livelihood and information on remote UNHCR/partners services. Cumulatively, 362 individuals have been provided with phone counselling as part of remote outreach services since the COVID-19 response efforts