Hopkins assures ending crisis

Beldangi, July 21: A top UNHCR official assured exiled Bhutanese that the one-and-half decade long impasse could be coming to an end very soon.

Talking to Bhutanese in Beldangi II camp in Jhapa on July 20, UNHCR vice chief Judy Cheng-Hopkins told that exiled Bhutanese need to be patient  and help the agency find permanent solution of the crisis.

Hopkins said UNHCR stands for opening all three options – repatriation, integration in host country or third country settlement. Refugees and their leaders strongly criticized the idea of the agency.

"Please have faith in us. We are doing everything we can to bring your plight to the attention of the international community," Hopkins said.

After hearing them that they are "depressed" and "frustrated," spending 15 or 16 years in the camp with no realistic prospect of going home, Hopkins said: "We are well aware of your frustrations, and we really, really hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to solve a good many of your problems."

She said she was reassured by her talks with the Nepalese government that the refugee issue is given priority.

Amid rumours of radicalisation of youth in the camps, Hopkins appealed to the refugee leaders to maintain peace and calm to avoid spoiling their chances of repatriation, local integration or resettlement.

This is the second time that top UNHCR official assured of early solution the crisis. Then UNHCR chief Sadako Ogata in 2000 said Bhutan is ready to welcome them back home. Bhutan News Service