UNHCR Representative in Nepal Abraham AbrahamUNHCR Representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham (File Photo)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that the cases of 16 people to be resettled in the US and Canada were not the part of its project for third country settlement of the Bhutanese refugees.

A press release issued by the refugee agency on Thursday said these were submitted as special humanitarian cases and accepted for resettlement by the two countries due to their urgent protection needs.

“UNHCR negotiated with the Government of Nepal to grant exit permits to them as they are unable to find safety and protection within the refugee camps,” the agency said further.

“The resettlement of these individuals is extremely important as they can no longer be kept in the camps for protection reasons,” said Abraham Abraham, UNHCR Representative in Nepal. He further said, “We are deeply concerned for their lives as they also require specialized treatment and care not available in the camp environment or in Nepal.”

The reaction of the refugee agency came at a time when refugees are demonstrating against the resettlement of these 16 individuals saying that the only solution of the crisis should repatriation.

Abraham also accused that the ‘protests are being orchestrated by some refugee leaders’ and does not represent the views of the refugees in general.

“It is sad and unfortunate that these refugee leaders are possibly intimidating innocent and helpless refugees,” he said.

Tek Nath Rizal

Tek Nath Rizal (File Photo)
Talking to Nepalnews, Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal strongly opposed the UNHCR’s accusation that leaders are intimidating the refugees. “It is the UNHCR that is playing with the refugees rights to return,” he said.

However, General Secretary of the Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan, Vidhyapati Mishra told Nepalnews that though their priority is repatriation, individual refugees should be allowed to choose their future. “Repatriation, local integration and third country settlement of the refugees, whichever the option they choose, should go together,” he added.

The refugee agency also clarified that the government of Nepal is yet to approve the proposal of third country settlement, adding, it has been advocating that a comprehensive solution of the crisis should be found at the earliest possible.

At the end of the four-day long visit to Nepal recently, UNHCR vice commissioner Judy Cheng-Hopkins said that these 16 ‘vulnerable’ individuals will be resettled in the US and Canada for which Nepal government has provided exit visas.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR further said the Australian government has contributed assistance of about USD 534,351 to the UNHCR Nepal programme for 2006/2007.

According to the agency, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) of the Australian govt. has contributed USD 432,595 towards the UN refugee agency’s 2006/2007 Annual Budget Programme for Nepal plus USD 101,756 for the protection of, and assistance to internally displaced persons in Nepal,

“This contribution will go toward funding priority activities for the refugees from Bhutan in the areas of health and nutrition, education in addition to repair and maintenance needs of refugee shelters,” added Abraham.