A group of Sudanese refugee women stranded in India have issued a desperate call for help, saying they are facing what they describe as a complete violation of their rights despite being registered with the UN Refugee Agency.
One of the women explained that she travelled to India for medical treatment before the war erupted in Sudan. She later lost her husband and family to the conflict and can no longer return home due to the deteriorating security situation.
The women say their registration with the UNHCR has not provided them with protection or support, leaving them to take on low paid and insecure work to meet basic needs.
They also report facing insults and discrimination because of their African identity, as well as extortion, sexual violence, harassment and verbal abuse, including from some Sudanese nationals living in India.
They are urging the UNHCR and human rights organisations to intervene urgently to ensure their safety and to relocate them to countries where their rights will be protected. They add that police harassment and bullying continue without clear justification, while many of the women struggle to care for children who need both education and medical support.
