The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Monday said it was looking into the demands of a group of some 20 refugees and asylum-seekers of various nationalities, who have been staging demonstration outside its Kathmandu office premises since 10 January, for resettlement to third countries.

The refugees and asylum-seekers, according to the UNHCR, are individual cases of various nationalities assisted under the refugee body’s ‘urban refugee programme’.

On 12 January, the UNHCR officials met a few representatives of the group to listen to their grievances as well as to identify their immediate concerns, a press release issued by the UNCHR said.

“They expressed their concern that resettlement to third countries is proceeding too slowly and complained that they have not been provided clear or accurate information about their cases in the past,” the statement said quoting UNHCR’s Protection Officer, Sardhanand Panchoe.

Sardhanand added, “They demanded written assurances that their cases will be submitted for resettlement. They also urged that deadlines to be set regarding resettlement of their cases.”

As local integration is not available in Nepal, and repatriation to their countries of origin is not yet feasible due to the conditions in those countries, the UNHCR is seeking their resettlement in third countries, the statement further said.

“Resettlement is a lengthy process, in which UNHCR plays a supporting role by submitting applications to resettlement countries. The decision to accept a case for resettlement rests with the resettlement country, rather than with UNHCR,” clarified Kimberly Roberson, Senior Durable Solutions Officer, adding, “The process may take many months, and in some cases may not be possible.”

The UN refugee body assists urban refugees to find durable solutions to their problems. Potential solutions include voluntary repatriation to the country of origin, local integration in the country of asylum, or resettlement to third countries.

The UNHCR stated that members of the group are at various stages of the resettlement process and that they have been provided information concerning the refugee body’s activities on their behalf.

“The refugee agency has assured the group that the organisation is working diligently on their behalf and asked them to bear in mind limited staffing and other practical considerations. Due to UNHCR’s resettlement policies and the exigencies of humanitarian work, it is not possible to provide written deadlines or guarantees for resettlement of individual cases,” the stated read.

The refugee agency carries out refugee status determination (RSD) under its Mandate for these urban asylum-seekers. If recognised as Mandate refugees, it endeavours to identify durable solutions for them and provides medical and financial assistance during their temporary stay in Nepal.