UNHCR?s representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham

UNHCR’s representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham (file photo)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said the attempt by the refugees to return to Bhutan from the Beldangi camps near Damak in eastern Nepal on Wednesday has placed them at risk.

According to a statement by the UNHCR Kathmandu office, some 300 Bhutanese refugees from the Beldangi camps near Damak in eastern Nepal, boarded five buses organised by the Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF) and headed to the Indian border at Kakarbhitta in an attempt to return to Bhutan Wednesday morning.

Among the group were 160 children, including 40 disabled. Before leaving Beldangi camps, some refugee shelters were destroyed. It appears some refugees had been intimidated to leave the camp, the statement read.

They refugees were prevented from crossing into India by security forces and clashed with police with exchange of brickbats for a while, eyewitnesses said.

“UNHCR was not involved in this refugee movement in any way. It’s deeply unfortunate that politically motivated individuals feel they can take the lives of refugees into their own hands, giving them false hopes and aspirations,” said UNHCR’s representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham.

“While we can understand the increasing frustration of Bhutanese refugees about the lack progress on repatriation made by the governments of Nepal and Bhutan, this attempt to return was bound to fail,” Abraham said. “It would be in the best interests of the refugees to return to the camps where UNHCR can continue to provide them with assistance,” he added.

Some 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been sheltering in seven camps in Nepal since they were forcibly evicted from Bhutan in the early 1990’s.

UNHCR has been excluded from the negotiations on voluntary repatriation between the Nepalese and Bhutanese governments, the statement said. However, the UN refugee agency has always strongly advocated for permanent solutions for the Bhutanese refugees including voluntary repatriation, resettlement in third countries and local integration where possible, it added.

Meanwhile, when contacted by Nepalnews, Foreign Affairs ministry officials said they were gathering reports on the incident from the home ministry.