As part of our interview series with staff members for World Humanitarian Day, we spoke with Ankita Gupta about the meaning and impact of humanitarian work with – and for – the people she serves in India.  

Ankita works as a Programme Officer for JRS in India, one of the countries severely affected by funding cuts imposed by the United States government. 

Why is humanitarian work important to your community? 

JRS India goes beyond emergency relief to provide long-term recovery for displaced people in the country. In the absence of national refugee legislation, and with India not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, we stand alongside the most vulnerable by offering rehabilitation services and socio-economic opportunities. 

As episodes of xenophobia rise and restrictions tighten, refugees face increasing fear, restricted mobility, and growing invisibility. JRS is committed to supporting forcibly displaced people in upholding their dignity, amplifying their voices, and building pathways towards self-reliance and hope. 

How have the people we serve in India been affected by the US funding cut? 

Before the Stop Work Order of 24 January, JRS North East (NE) & JRS Delhi were actively supporting people fleeing the conflict in Myanmar and urban refugees from Afghanistan. 

The announcement of the suspension came as a shock. The abrupt halt left around 7,000 individuals served by JRS—already in a highly vulnerable state—without access to essential services such as education, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and reconciliation. 

We were forced to suspend all operations without any clarity on when activities might resume. Halting key services—such as community outreach activities, which are critical channels through which forcibly displaced people feel seen and heard – led to a sharp decline in regular interaction with the people served. As a result, support mechanisms gradually disintegrated. 

Grassroots advocacy spaces, once facilitated by JRS to respond to emerging needs, became minimal or disappeared entirely, weakening the impact of prior efforts. 

How has your JRS been able to respond? 

With the support of JRS’s partners around the world, our team in India continues to serve vulnerable populations, albeit with a scaled-down activity plan and a limited budget.  

Although the learning centres for Myanmar refugees remain operational, their future is far from certain. At present, they are expected to function until at least December 2025. In contrast, the learning centres for Afghan children were suspended as early as June this year, severely disrupting the education of an already vulnerable population. Equally concerning are the gaps in access to nutrition, healthcare, and protection for displaced girls and women—critical needs we are currently unable to address.