2,500 will get long-term visas,says UNHCR

Long-term stay visas will be granted to more than 2,500 asylum-seekers from Myanmar,the United Nations High Commission for Refugees announced on Tuesday.

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Long-term stay visas will be granted to more than 2,500 asylum-seekers from Myanmar,the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Tuesday.

Many of the asylum-seekers have been staying near Sultangarhi mosque in Vasant Kunj since last Sunday.

The issue of granting them refugee-status,however,remained unaddressed.

In a meeting held between UNHCRs Chief of Mission Montserrat Feixas Vihe and 10 representatives of the asylum-seekers from Myanmars northern Rakhine state,UNHCR announced that the Government of India will be issuing long-term stay visas for asylum-seekers registered with them. The visas will reportedly be issued from their places of residence in India by the local foreigners registration officers (FRO).

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UNHCR also urged the asylum-seekers to return to their residences in various parts of the country without delay and begin applying for long-term visas. Leaders of the asylum-seeking community have been invited for another meeting in September.

Speaking to Newsline,UNHCR Assistant External Relations Officer Nayana Bose referred to Tuesdays developments as a huge step and asserted that the asylum-seekers will be treated at a par with other refugees in India.

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