UNHCR says, ‘choose Nepal or Bhutan’ (including UNHCR letter to BNN)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Nepal Representative Kevin J Allen has asked the Bhutanese refugees residing in Nepal to make up their mind whether to stay in Nepal or return to Bhutan.
Speaking to journalists at the UNHCR office in Damak, Jhapa, today, Allen said the refugees will be consulted about their choice once third country resettlement concludes by the end of 2016.
“The remaining refugees will be asked to choose one of the options, but that will happen only after the resettlement programme concludes by the last of this year,” he said, adding UNHCR will initiate talks with Nepal and Bhutan governments after that.
According to data, over 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have reached foreign countries including America, Canada and Australia to settle permanently under the programme.
With many of the refugees opting for third country resettlement, there are just about 10,000 persons, mostly elderly and those who have been in matrimonial relationship with Nepalis in the refugee camps now, if the estimate of the UNHCR is anything to go by.
“Ours isn’t the policy to compel refugees to select one of the options; rather it should be taken as a chance to choose one of the options available,” said Allen.
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Following is the response from UNHCR regarding this news reproduction from THT.
“The article published in the Himalayan Times on Wednesday September 14, which was reproduced on the BNN website, was inaccurate and misleading. The editor of the Himalayan Times published an “Editor’s note” and also regretted the error.
The Himalayan Times reporter was not present during a meeting the UNHCR Representative, Mr. Kevin Allen, was having with other local journalists during his visit to Damak, Jhapa district on Tuesday, 13 September. The quotes attributed to Mr. Allen in the article were inaccurate and a result of second hand information received by the Himalayan Times. As such, UNHCR clarified the statements made by Mr. Allen and the views of UNHCR Nepal in the context of the draw-down of the resettlement program for refugees from Bhutan by sending a letter to editor to the Himalayan Times on Wednesday, 14 September, which was published on September 15. Here’s the link: http://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/letters-airbus-tyre-bursts/
Nepal has generously hosted Bhutanese refugees for over two decades and the international community has shown extraordinary solidarity in addressing their plight by resettling over 105000 refugees over a 10 year period. By the conclusion of the refugee program at the end of 2016, 90% of the population residing in the camps in Morang and Jhapa Districts will have been resettled and 10000 will continue to remain in the camps. With the end of the resettlement chapter, in 2017, UNHCR Nepal will focus its efforts on facilitating dialogue between Bhutan and Nepal to achieve alternative solutions for the remaining refugees; specifically exploring local solutions as well as voluntary repatriation to Bhutan.
In the context of unprecedented high numbers of displaced persons fleeing conflicts in countries such as Syria and Iraq, UNHCR has a responsibility to alleviate suffering and find solutions for those fleeing human rights abuse around the world. Thus, while the resettlement program is drawing to a close, we will continue to engage in dialogue with both the Governments of Nepal and Bhutan in order to assist refugees in Nepal; simultaneously exploring local avenues for solutions as well as all possibilities for voluntary repatriation.”