Communique of the Core Working Group on Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal (REPRODUCTION)

The governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United States, as members of the Core Working Group on Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal, highlight our strong desire to see a comprehensive and sustainable resolution for the protracted refugee situation of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.

Indeed, the refugees living in Nepal cannot wait indefinitely. The physical, social, and emotional costs of living in the camps with uncertain futures are too high. In addition, the international community cannot be expected to continue to assist the Bhutanese refugee camps indefinitely.

We are committed to working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of Nepal towards a comprehensive and sustainable solution for this refugee population that best meets the individual needs of the refugees.

We acknowledge with appreciation the cooperation of the Government of Nepal and the work of UNHCR in completing the 2006-07 UNHCR registration exercise and census across seven refugee camps in Nepal. This registration has determined that approximately 108,000 Bhutanese refugees reside in the camps in eastern Nepal, and further underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive solution for these individuals, most of whom have been living in the camps for 15 years.

We appreciate the Government of Nepal's commitment to proceed with third-country resettlement while continuing to seek a comprehensive solution for the Bhutanese refugees. We also welcome the offer of the Government of Nepal to provide exit permits on a streamlined basis for those refugees who UNHCR refers for third-country resettlement.

We welcome the stated commitment of the Royal Government of Bhutan to find a just and durable solution to the situation of the refugees in the camps. We encourage the Royal Government of Bhutan to work with the UNHCR and the Government of Nepal to provide written terms and conditions of return, including on property rights, and a clear timeline for implementation of agreed commitments for those who have already been identified for return and for those who may wish to return in the future. We also call on the government of Bhutan to ensure conditions within Bhutan that will not cause further refugee outflows in the future.

Mindful of the meaningful role that international solidarity and burden sharing can play, members of the Core Group wish to work closely with the governments of Nepal and Bhutan to facilitate all forms of durable solutions. We are announcing today a number of concrete measures to assist all parties in the realization of this goal.

First, today, many members of the Core Group are announcing their commitments to resettle, over a number of years, substantial numbers of refugees who choose this option, and to support their integration into new countries and societies. In particular, the United States has offered to consider resettling 60,000 or more refugees. Canada has also offered to resettle up to 5000 refugees. Australia, Denmark, New Zealand and the Netherlands are willing to provide assistance and are also considering how they might contribute through their own resettlement programs.

In addition, as part of an emphasis on a comprehensive approach, some Core Group countries stand ready to provide assistance for repatriation efforts to Bhutan.

The members of the Core Group believe there is now a positive momentum in favour of resolving this humanitarian situation. We call on all parties to work cooperatively and without delay to take the necessary steps.
(Updated: 2007-05-16, Source: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca)