Refugees from Bhutan poised for new start
The first groups of refugees from Bhutan could be resettled within months, thanks to Nepal's decision to grant them exit permits.
DAMAK, Nepal, February 1 (UNHCR) - A new lease on life is within reach for thousands of refugees from Bhutan who have been living in Nepal's camps for nearly two decades. Within months, the first groups could start their lives in other countries, thanks to a recent decision enabling them to leave for resettlement.
The breakthrough occurred in mid-January, when the Nepalese government agreed to issue exit permits to refugees accepted for group resettlement to third countries. This decision paves the way for the large-scale movement of refugees who decide voluntarily to be resettled after spending up to 17 years in Nepal's camps.
The refugees first arrived in Nepal after fleeing ethnic tensions in Bhutan in the early 1990s. There are more than 107,000 refugees living in seven camps in eastern Nepal today.
Recognizing their desperate situation, the US has said it will consider at least 60,000 refugees for resettlement and Canada has indicated it will accept up to 5,000. Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway have indicated their willingness to accept refugees from Bhutan for resettlement.
"We are very thankful to the Nepalese government for the exit permits," said Daisy Dell, the UN refugee agency's representative in Kathmandu. "Resettlement offers a way out for thousands of refugees who see no future in the camps. At the same time, we continue to advocate for voluntary repatriation for those who wish to do so."
The resettlement process is a long one. Last November, UNHCR started a mass information campaign on durable solutions throughout the camps. Since then, it has interviewed thousands of interested refugees and submitted the names of nearly 10,000 individuals to several countries.
Further interviews are being conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and officials from the resettlement countries. Once accepted, the refugees undergo extensive medical screenings and cultural orientation to prepare them for their new life abroad.
The first refugee families are scheduled to leave in March, and numbers are expected to increase by July.
In the meantime, the camps are buzzing with discussions. "Resettlement is a very hot topic now. Everyone is talking about it - in school, in the markets," said Ganga,* a 21-year-old refugee in Goldhap camp. "We are in a dilemma. Our future here is uncertain. If there are good conditions in Bhutan, we will go back. But time is not favouring us."
Ganga is the eldest of seven children. Her father died a few years ago and her mother works on tea estates outside the camp for 70 rupees (US$1.10) a day. All the children are well educated and eager to help ease the family burden.
"If there is somewhere better than here, we will go," said Ganga. "I hope we can get some skills training in tailoring or [beauty] parlour before we go to a third country. If we have the opportunity, I believe we'll do well."
The older generation, however, feels differently. "At this moment, we are not thinking about resettlement at all. We're only thinking of going back to our land in Bhutan," said Birkabahadul Gurung, 72, who heads a family of 26 refugees in Goldhap camp. "The discussion inside our family is very friendly - I make the decisions and they accept."
Tensions have increased over opposing views in the camps, with unknown groups threatening some refugees in favour of resettlement. The local authorities have boosted security by deploying 25 police officers in each camp, creating an environment where the refugees can be free to make informed decisions.
For Ganga and her family, the waiting game continues. What's a few more months of caution compared to the 17 years in exile, she seemed to say as she shrugged: "Let the others go first, then we'll see."
* Name changed for protection reasons
By Vivian Tan in Damak, Nepal
Related news and stories
Nepal becomes first country in Asia Pacific to vaccinate refugees against COVID-19
Hardships multiply for older refugees amid COVID-19 pandemic
A year after Nepal quake, villagers rebuild from the ruins
UNHCR and World Taekwondo Federation partner on training in camps
UNHCR calls for safer alternatives to deadly Bay of Bengal voyages
Resettlement of Bhutanese refugees surpasses 100,000 mark
Your search for « bhutan » matched 978 results. Displaying page 2 of 109 pages.
-
UNHCR urges Bhutanese refugees to wait for right opportunity to go home
16 Aug 2005 ... DAMAK, Nepal, August 16 (UNHCR) - After an abortive attempt earlier this month by some 300 Bhutanese ... an information campaign this week to warn Bhutanese refugees in Nepal's camps about the pitfalls ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2004 - Nepal
1 Dec 2003 ... UNHCR Global Appeal 2004 1 96 Nepal Main objectives • Urge the Governments of Nepal and Bhutan to fi nd durable solutions for the Bhutanese camp population. • Provide international protection to ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2000 - Nepal
1 Jun 2001 ... Main Objectives and Activities Protect and assist Bhutanese refugees until a durable solution is found; support bilateral efforts by the Governments of Bhutan and Nepal to identify such a solution; ...... -
Refugees from Bhutan embrace new life with hope and anxiety
25 Mar 2008 ... DAMAK, Nepal, March 25 (UNHCR) - More than 100 refugees from Bhutan left their camps in Nepal over ... More than 107,000 refugees from Bhutan have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal since they ...... -
Waves of life: the role of radio in Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. Priya Govindaraj
4 Jul 2013 ... NEW ISSUES IN REFUGEE RESEARCH Research Paper No. 258 Waves of life: the role of radio in Bhutanese ... ISSN 1020-7473 Introduction I had been in the Terai region of Nepal visiting the Bhutanese refugee ...... -
Refugees from Bhutan poised for new start
1 Feb 2008 ... for thousands of refugees from Bhutan who have been living in Nepal's camps for nearly two decades. ... The refugees first arrived in Nepal after fleeing ethnic tensions in Bhutan in the early 1990s. ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2001 - Nepal
1 Dec 2000 ... M a i n O b j e c t i v e s • Facilitate bilateral discussions between the Governments of Bhutan and Nepal to seek durable solutions for Bhutanese refugees. • Provide protection and assistance to ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2005 - Nepal
1 Jun 2006 ... and implementing durable solutions for Bhutanese refugees, with a focus on re- registration of ... were provided for over 106,000 refugees from Bhutan in seven refugee camps located in eastern ...... -
Over 20,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled from Nepal
8 Sep 2009 ... More than 20,000 refugees from Bhutan have now left Nepal to begin new lives in third countries under one of UNHCR's largest resettlement programmes. The resettlement of refugees from Bhutan from the ......