736 Afghans recorded for new registration in India from Aug 1 to Sep 11: UNHCR

Basic assistance such as food, cash-based assistance and core relief items are being provided to the most vulnerable new arrivals from Afghanistan and those already in India, the UN body said.The UNHCR said it has also set up an Afghanistan emergency cell and a dedicated help page for Afghans with comprehensive information on registration and assistance available.Additional 247 helplines were established to answer queries around the clock and direct engagement with Afghan communities scaled up.

A total of 736 Afghans were recorded for new registration from August 1 to September 11, the UNHCR said here, adding that it is scaling up its capacity to meet increasing requests for registration and assistance of Afghans in India.

The UN refugee agency said it is in constant dialogue with the government on matters about Afghan nationals, including issuance and extensions of visas, assistance, and solutions.

According to the data, the total number of persons of concern to UNHCR in India stands at 43,157. Among them, 15,559 refugees and asylum seekers are from Afghanistan.

''From August 1 until September 11, 736 Afghans were recorded by UNHCR for new registration,'' the UN body said in a fact sheet.

Among those who have approached the UNHCR are Afghan individuals who have newly arrived in 2021, those seeking to reopen previously closed asylum cases, students, businessmen, or people on medical or other types of visas who are unable to go back due to the current situation in Afghanistan.

The UNHCR further said that it is scaling up its capacity to meet the increasing requests for registration and assistance of Afghans in India.

''UNHCR is increasing its humanitarian response program for vulnerable new arrivals from Afghanistan. Basic assistance such as food, cash-based assistance, and core relief items are being provided to the most vulnerable new arrivals from Afghanistan and those already in India,'' the UN body said.

The UNHCR said it has also set up an Afghanistan emergency cell and a dedicated help page for Afghans with comprehensive information on registration and assistance available.

''Additional 24/7 helplines were established to answer queries around the clock and direct engagement with Afghan communities scaled up. Over 130 calls are received per day, mainly enquiring about assistance and registration,'' it said.

The UNHCR said it is appealing to partners, UN agencies, and the wider donor community to respond to the increased need for solutions and assistance to Afghans in India.

The immediate needs include continued food assistance for 6,000 individuals, sanitary items for 3,000 women and girls, cash assistance for 500 most vulnerable people, and winterization support for 1,000 most vulnerable people, it added.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, against the backdrop of the withdrawal of US forces from the country.

India also evacuated people on military transport aircraft of the IAF under the government's 'Operation Devi Shakti'.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)