Mass briefing on third country resettlement begins

Kathmandu, November 06: The process for large scale third country resettlement of exiled Bhutanese has begun with the mass information campaign in all the camps, UNHCR today said.

The campaign is aimed at assisting the exiled Bhutanese to make an informed decision by providing them with accurate information.

This follows the decision of the Nepal government to allow those who wish to opt for third country resettlement as an alternative solution to do so on the basis of an informed choice and acceptance by the resettlement country.

“UNHCR prefers to help exiled Bhutanese go back to their home countries when they can do so in safety and dignity, however, in this case, the only option currently available is that for resettlement in a third country for those refugees who wish to make this choice,” the statement quoted Abraham Abraham, UNHCR Representative in Nepal to have said. He emphasized, “Resettlement to a third country does not in any way preclude the right of refugees to return to Bhutan.”

The UNHCR representative also urged the Bhutanese leaders in exile to respect the right of every individual to make informed choices and take decisions regarding his or her own future.

“The UN refugee agency together with the international community will continue its efforts to ensure that as many doors as possible are opened in terms of achieving lasting solutions to the plight of the refugees, including voluntary repatriation as and when return conditions permit,” the UNHCR release stated.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Government of USA and to all the other resettlement recipient countries as well as to the Government of Nepal for supporting third country resettlement as a humanitarian solution," said Abraham.

Resettlement to the USA is organised by the US government, through its Overseas Processing Entity (OPE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM will process resettlement of exiled Bhutanese on the basis of referrals made by UNHCR, and only where expressions of interest for resettlement have been made known to UNHCR.

During her recent visit to Nepal, US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, had said that the first batch of exiled Bhutanese would land in the US by January 2008. Bhutan News Service