Humanitarian Aid International is a non-profit organization that works towards providing support to Pakistani refugees from the Hindu minority community living in Delhi through its Refugee Programme.
Launched in 2018, the programme aims to provide humanitarian, developmental and integration assistance to these refugees. HAI operates in two camps in Delhi, namely Majnu ka Tilla and Signature Bridge, and has been covering approximately 230 families through various interventions focused on health, education, livelihood, legal assistance, and access to basic amenities and essential services using a rights-based and participatory approach.
Under its Scholarship Programme, HAI believes every child has the right to education worldwide and in every circumstance. The Scholarship Programme aims to lessen the financial burden of schooling for the families of Pakistani refugees residing in Majnu Ka Tila and Signature Bridge Camps, encouraging children to pursue secondary school, which is vital for ensuring they have the skills and knowledge necessary for a university degree. This program aims to help refugee children complete their secondary education, ease the financial burden of education on refugee families, and increase family understanding of the significance of their children’s education. The scholarship is awarded to children who meet specific criteria, including being a Pakistani refugee residing at Majnu Ka Tilla or Signature Bridge Camp, being enrolled in a formal schooling system and HAI’s education centre, and being in class IX, X, XI or XII. Students in classes IX and X receive Rs. 500 monthly, while students in classes XI and XII receive Rs. 1000 monthly.
The Shelter Project is another program by HAI that aims to provide a healthy living environment with privacy and dignity for the families and children at Signature Bridge Refugee Camp. It is critical to ensure the existence of safe and secure infrastructures to protect refugees from a range of risks, including insect bite/animal attacks, unhygienic living conditions, etc. 50 families at SBC have been chosen as beneficiaries based on vulnerability. These temporary shelters are engineered based on context-specific structural and performance requirements following the Sphere standards. The objective of the Shelter Project is to provide a safe and secure living environment for refugee families at Signature Bridge Camp and to ensure kids have access to well-protected structures at the camp. The shelter design requires 12*18ft per shelter and costs Rs. 72,578. The shelter is provided free of cost to the party, and HAI invests one time in the shelter. The party will pay for any fee for repair and maintenance.
Overall, HAI’s Refugee Programme, Scholarship Programme and Shelter Project aim to assist and support Pakistani refugees living in Delhi, focusing on health, education, livelihood, legal assistance, and access to basic amenities and essential services. These programs aim to improve the lives of refugees and help them build a better future.