UNSC briefing by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

(7 December 2021)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Let me begin by thanking United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, for his briefing.

2. India’s humanitarian response to the refugee issue, particularly those facing persecution, has always been driven by the ideals of compassion and empathy. Through history, India has been a land of refuge to those who have faced persecution in foreign lands. Zoroastrians and Jews, when faced with persecution centuries ago, found a ready home in India. If not for India, the Zorastraian faith may not have survived. Now, both are very much part of India’s proud pluralist culture and heritage. For many of the refugee communities in India, but for India’s protection and nurture, they may have lost their heritage, culture and even language.

3. In contemporary history, India’s hospitality, and assistance for refugee communities from the neighboring countries is well recorded and appreciated. Be it the Tibetans, or our brothers and sisters from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Myanmar, India has always responded with compassion and understanding. When West Pakistan unleashed genocide on East Pakistan, India hosted millions of refugees and saved them from massacre. India’s humanitarian response to the refugee issue from Bangladesh was one of the most sophisticated and empathetic in contemporary history. This may well have represented one of the first instances of the UN’s concept of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’. If judged by today’s standards of human rights and international humanitarian law, the perpetrators should have received a drastically different fate.

4. Today, India is host to a large number of refugees and our programmes to assist them are managed entirely from our own resources. India has clearly demonstrated at all times abiding commitment towards the principles of international law in protecting refugees. This has been deeply appreciated by the previous UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who is now the UN Secretary General. I hope the current UNHCR shares these sentiments. India is also committed to facilitate dignified, safe and sustainable return of refugees to their homelands.

5. On another note, India assists refugees elsewhere as well notably through partnering UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East since long. India continues to remain supportive of UNRWA’s role in human development and delivery of humanitarian services. We have enhanced our contribution further in recent years. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs participated in the recent UNRWA Ministerial conference in Brussels and renewed India’s commitment to continue to contribute USD 5 million to the Agency in 2022 also.

6. UNHCR in his briefing earlier updated the Council on the refugee crisis across the world and the challenges associated in the handling. We note with concern in the surge of the number of refuges and internally displaced persons under the mandate of UNHCR that reached over 91 million people. The magnitude of the problem is indeed worrying. India appreciates the efforts made by the Office of UNHCR in helping refugees in various countries. In this regard, let me make following observations.

i) First, preventing armed conflicts, countering terrorism, building and sustaining peace through facilitating sustainable development and good governance will prevent people from being forced to leave their homelands. We cannot have States following policies which exacerbate conflicts on the one hand and then refusing to tackle refugee influx on the other.

ii) Second, the primary duty and responsibility of protecting and assisting IDPs is that of the states concerned. International action should remain within the bounds of the concept of sovereignty, which should not be diluted in any manner. Such action should, therefore, only be at the request of the country concerned.

iii) Third, the refugee issue is a global challenge and no country alone can resolve this issue. We must continue to foster a global perspective that promotes collaboration and participation of all Member States and relevant stakeholders in line with the relevant international law. India supports the central role of the United Nations in dealing with refugee issue. A multilateral platform is always more effective than small groups in building a global consensus and encouraging united action.

iv) Fourth, we firmly believe that the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality must be upheld in dealing with refugee matters. This is crucial to maintain the credibility of the international refugee protection mechanism. Member States and UNHCR must remain committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and avoid politicization of the humanitarian work.

v) Fifth, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing humanitarian challenges and refugees are majorly exposed to the socioeconomic impact of this crisis. Humanitarian aid has become more important than ever. Member States should provide non-discriminatory and equitable medical services to refugees and take them into due account in national pandemic response strategies. We need empathy more than ever.

7. In concluding, Mr. President, India remains committed to the humanitarian protection of refugees. We also believe that this humanitarian endeavor must be consistent with welfare objectives and national security. We strongly believe that determined action, solidarity and multilateralism are more needed than ever to address the refugee issue.

I thank you.

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