Madam Chair,

We thank the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for his report under the Agenda Item and also his statement made in the committee yesterday.

Madam Chair,

The increase in number of people who have fled their homeland due to protracted instability, armed conflict and violence in different regions of the world presents a serious global challenge. 

According the Report of the UNHCR there are more than 15 million refugees. It is notable that  13 million of these refugees are hosted in Asia and Africa while Europe has around 1.8 million and North America around 400,000 refugees. Three fourth of the refugees come from just 11 countries. Seven countries host more than half of all refugees. Almost 90% of the refugees are hosted in developing countries.

The enormous and crucial contribution of developing countries in hosting refugees often risking their fragile economies in many cases, must be acknowledged and recognized. International community also needs to strengthen cooperation and balanced burden-sharing with the host states.

The 'New York Declaration for refugee and migration', adopted recently also recognized the improper treatment of refugees and ignoring the responsibilities by countries that are signatories to the Refugee Convention and its Protocol. 

Madam Chair,

In order to address the issue of refugees effectively, it is imperative to clearly differentiate refugees from economic migrants so as to better address their protection and needs. 

 
Preventing armed conflicts, countering terrorism, building and sustaining peace through facilitating sustainable development and governance is needed to address forced displacement of people from their homeland. 

Sustained and coordinated action is required to combat human trafficking, transnational organized crime and those who further victimize refugees.
 

Madam Chair,

There is a long history of large communities seeking refuge in India going back several centuries. We have developed situation-specific responses in each instance. People seeking shelter in India have never been turned back. We have time and again demonstrated our abiding commitment to the principles of protection of all those who seek shelter.

India engages regularly with the UNHCR, a key partner in addressing the refugee problem. India has also partnered the UN Relief and Works Agency UNRWA for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East since ling in the significant work being done by them, including by making financial contributions.

Madam Chair,

India is committed to work with the international community to address the present and emerging challenges to the international refugee agenda in spirit of cooperation and solidarity to ensure refugees a life of dignity.

   
I thank you.