Lessons of Survival: Exploring the Social Networks and Coping Mechanisms of Chin Refugee Women in Delhi

Abstract

This article explores the influence of social networks and social capital on Chin refugee women as they negotiate survival in their country of first asylum, India. Findings indicate that the participants’ social networks were vital for day-to-day survival, but they served as a means for short-term coping, rather than long-term adaptation. This is not to negate the importance of the resources; without the community knowledge, livelihood linkages, and support they received from other Chin refugees in Delhi, the situation for the participants would have been even more dismal and they would have been completely socially isolated.

Keywords:

• Urban refugee women
• social networks
• social capital
• gender
• India

Notes

1 UNHCR announced on June 13, 2018, the following message related to the refugee status of Chin refugees from Burma. This “community message” was addressed to Chin refugees residing in Malaysia, but the decision also affects Chin refugees in India:

 “An analysis of the political, social and security development in Chin State over the course of several years has determined there are positive developments which are durable and sustainable in nature. While the situation in Myanmar is still fluid and unstable in parts of the country, the situation in Chin State is now stable and secure from a refugee protection perspective. Based on this, UNHCR presumes that ethnic Chin refugees are safely able to avail themselves to the protection of the Myanmar Government and hence are no longer in need of international protection from UNHCR. UNHCR has therefore decided, as of 1 August 2018, to begin the process of ending refugee status for ethnic Chins from Myanmar who are assessed to not have a need for international protection. From this date onwards, Chin refugees approaching UNHCR to renew their refugee card will be provided individual counselling and offered two options.

  Option 1: Extension of existing UNHCR identity card until the 31 December 2019 waiving the need for an individual interview. Individuals will remain under UNHCR’s protection until 31 December 2019. As of 1 January 2020, the individual refugee status will automatically cease and UNHCR identity cards will no longer renewed.

 Option 2: Individuals may request an interview if they feel they are still in need of international protection. The UNHCR identify card will be replaced by a letter confirming refugee status and a final decision will be made within approximately two months. Based on the final decision, status will either automatically cease and the UNHCR document will no longer be extended, or refugee status will be confirmed along with further card renewal. This process will be completed by 31 December 2019. Only those individuals UNHCR confirms are still in need of international protection beyond this date will remain registered and benefit from international protection by UNHCR under its mandate.

” However, many community organizations and Chin refugees themselves have spoken out against this decision and have raised a number of concerns related to their safety. The situation continues to unfold at the time of writing.

2 Phalam is a district within Chin State.

3 The funds were provided through the CRR's NGO partner, the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women (ANCORW).

4 This woman comes from Tedim Township in Chin State. She identified with the “Zomi” community, which is a Chin population within Tedim whose language and cultural practices further identify them as Zomi.

5 Figure 3 was created by the first author based on the findings.