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Host community sends off Liberian "brothers and sisters"
28 Oct 2004 As the first group of Liberian refugees repatriated from Largo camp in Sierra Leone, their local hosts threw an emotional farewell party to wish them a safe journey. It was the first such ceremony organised by a host community since the Liberian return operation started on October 1. -
Two more counties safe for return, says Liberian government
11 Oct 2004 Amid news that Bong and River Cess counties have been declared safe for return, UNHCR has facilitated the repatriation of a second convoy from Sierra Leone and is tracking the returnees' progress at home. -
First refugees sign up for return to Liberia
23 Sep 2004 On the first day of registration, more than 100 Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone's Gondama camp booked themselves seats on the first return convoy set to cross back into Liberia on October 1. -
UNHCR starts registering Liberian refugees for return from Sierra Leone
21 Sep 2004 The refugee agency has started registration in eastern Sierra Leone's Gondama and Tobanda camps after informing the refugees about their home conditions, repatriation and reintegration assistance, and other details. The facilitated repatriation will start in October. -
Guinea sees end of one return programme, start of another
30 Aug 2004 Now that UNHCR has ended return convoys to Sierra Leone, the agency and the Guinean government are helping the remaining Sierra Leonean refugees to integrate locally. At the same time, UNHCR has started a campaign to inform Liberian refugees in Guinea about their options for return, starting in October. -
UNHCR pumps aid where drinking water is rarer than diamonds
25 Aug 2004 Kono district in eastern Sierra Leone is rich in diamonds but poor in clean water supply. UNHCR and partners Peace Wind Japan and World Vision International are working to change that by constructing pump wells in the war-devastated returnee area. -
UNHCR donates ambulance to help recovery of Sierra Leonean town
10 Aug 2004 The $35,000 vehicle offers a shot in the arm for medical care in the north-western town of Kambia, where sick villagers had previously been carried to the hospital on stretchers or motorcycles, often dying before they could get emergency aid. -
New buildings cement school ties among refugees in Sierra Leone
5 Aug 2004 A German television station has helped to fund school buildings for refugees in Sierra Leone's eight camps. When the school term starts in September, children in the camps and host communities will be able to attend classes in proper buildings instead of shelters made of plastic sheeting. -
A Sierra Leonean family comes home
26 Jul 2004 UNHCR followed Ambulai Lumeh and his family as they ended 12 years of exile in Liberia, returning on the last UNHCR convoy to Sierra Leone last week. There were tears and smiles as they arrived back in the village they had left as newly weds - with four children in tow and new challenges ahead.