8,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled so far
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that over 8000
Bhutanese refugees have left their camps in Nepal to be resettled in
different countries in 2008.
The United States of America which announced that it would resettle 60,000
refugees, and even more if needed, has received 7547, the largest numbers
so far, who have been settled in cities like Tuscon, Seattle, Pittsburg,
Altanta and Baltimore.
Departures to Australia total 393, New Zealand 129, Canada 40, Netherlands
27, Norway 24 and Denmark 13, the statement reads. Some 16,000 - 18,000
refugees are expected to leave Nepal in 2009.
"We are pleased to see so many refugees starting their lives afresh after
living in difficult conditions in the camps for the last 18 years and to
learn that those resettled are adapting well in their new country," a
UNHCR statement quoted Daisy Dell, UNHCR Representative in Nepal as
saying.
She said, "This programme would not have been successful without the
strong support of the Government of Nepal, International Organization for
Migration (IOM) and the resettlement countries."
UNHCR further said around 60,000 refugees have shown their interest for
resettlement.
Additionally, UNHCR said it, together with the international community,
will continue to advocate for the option of voluntary repatriation to
Bhutan for those refugees who wish to do so. nepalnews.com ia Jan 07 09
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