Nine Montagnards go home in first UNHCR repatriation to Viet Nam
The Montagnards, anxious to reunite with their families but apprehensive of the future, have returned to Viet Nam in the first repatriation mounted by the UN refugee agency under an agreement aimed at finding solutions for some 750 Vietnamese who fled into Cambodia over the past year.
Angolans fly home from Botswana as repatriation season closes
Sixty-two Angolan refugees have been airlifted home in the first and last repatriation group this year from Botswana's Dukwi camp. UNHCR's Pumla Rulashe follows their emotional journey back to Angola.
Love in the time of repatriation
Led by UNHCR and supported by Africare and IOM, the Angolan repatriation operation from Namibia runs like clockwork, airlifting more than 1,000 Angolan refugees home so far. But sometimes love can temporarily throw a spanner in the works.
UN refugee agency begins repatriation of Congolese refugees
UNHCR has launched a voluntary repatriation programme for Congolese refugees in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR). Long awaited by the refugees, the returns to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's north-west province of Equateur are fraught with logistical difficulties.
UNHCR starts repatriation to Liberia; first refugees arrive on convoy, airlift
The inaugural convoy of 77 Liberians has returned on nine trucks from Sierra Leone, crossing back through Bo Waterside. The first airlift of 100 refugees has also left Ghana, marking a good start to UNHCR's facilitated repatriation operation to Liberia.
Liberian government declares four counties safe for return ahead of UNHCR repatriation
Two weeks before the start of UNHCR's voluntary repatriation to Liberia, the government has declared Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Margibi counties safe for return. Meanwhile, the agency and its partners continue rehabilitation projects that will help the returnees settle back home.
Iran resumes repatriation to Afghanistan and Iraq
The UN refugee agency in Iran has resumed its programme to help Afghan refugees return home to Afghanistan three days after an outbreak of violence in the Afghan city of Herat forced its suspension. UNHCR has also restarted voluntary repatriation convoys to southern Iraq, halted a month ago for security reasons.
Last convoys leave for Sierra Leone as assisted repatriation ends
The last convoys back to Sierra Leone left neighbouring Liberia and Guinea today, ending a huge UNHCR operation that has helped some 178,000 Sierra Leonean refugees to go home.
UNHCR starts Angolan repatriation season from DR Congo
The UN refugee agency has started helping the first groups of Angolan refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to go home this year after the rainy season.
Angolan repatriation season starts again
Two hundred Angolan refugees have gone home from Namibia in the first organised return convoy this year. They will soon be joined by Angolan refugees in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In all, UNHCR plans to help 145,000 Angolan returnees in 2004.