Netherland, little heaven for newcomers from Bhutan (Resettlement)

Hague (Netherlands), May 13: So far, 16 exiled Bhutanese from three familes arrived in The Netherlands under third country resettlement program. Leela Chhetri and her younger sister Ganga Chhetri  from Beldangi -I  arrived here first a couple of months back followed by Kharka family of 5 members from khudunabari and Rizal family of 9 members from Goldhap camp.

Welcomed and housed in Amersfoort by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers responsible for the reception of asylum seekers. It also provides accommodation during the asylum procedures and prepares them for their stay in a transit centre where they are kept together before they shifted to separate apartments for permanent stay.

 The new comers undergo thorough medical check-ups, get culturally oriented and join Dutch language classes. They are required to stay in the transit camps al least for two months.

Adults are provided with 50 euros and kids 40 euros on weekly basis. Individual newcomer has an Automated Teller Machine card to retrieve the money at their will.

After two months, they are moved to various apartments which are well furnished and luxurious. Living room with color television, heating systems in every room and kitchen with refrigerator make the life of newcomers comfortable. 
 
Leela and her sister Ganga are very happy to be here. Ganga goes to a town school whereas Leela in the language school of the center where she learns Dutch course. They are expecting to get a house near Amsterdam soon.
 
While, Kharka family from Khudunabari camp was provided a house in a small town of the Zeeland province -south east of The Netherlands. However, the family declined to move there citing their interest to live in the big cities like Amsterdam and Hague.

Yadu Khadka and Rekha Khadka go to language class along with their mother in the center and are very happy to be there.
 
Whereas, one of the members from Rizal family was admitted in a well-known hospital Utrecht for operation of brain tumor.
 
Currently there are about four dozens of Bhutanese dwelling in The Netherlands. Mostly they are located in the city of Hague. Bhutan News Service/ Ram Bahadur Karki Chhetri