21 August 2007
Maputo — Mozambique is an exemplary country in the African continent in terms of hosting and treatment to refugees.
United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres made this statement in Maputo on Monday, the second day of his work visit to the country.
He said that Mozambique attracts many groups of refugees because of peace and stability and fast development.
During his visit, Gueterres is to meet with the refugees at the Maratane National Refugee Centre, in the northern Nampula province, and with the Mozambican government authorities.
The purpose of Guterres visit is to learn first hand of the situation of the refugees in the country and exchange view points with the government on this issue.
He said that UNHCR is carrying out reforms to minimise expenses with assistance to the refugees in Mozambique and in other countries.
'During this visit we are to see what reforms do make sense in the assistance to the refugees in order for us to respond to our purposes and improve their living conditions in the centres. Mozambique is an example of hosting and treatment to refugees at continental level and, because it is a peaceful country and in fast development it becomes an attraction', he said.
Guterres explained that UNHCR is concerned with population movements, since at world level there has been a large movement of people for many reasons.
He said that this situation renders it difficult for his agency to identify who really needs protection.
To illustrate his point, Guterres said that there are people who leave their countries for economic reasons, and go looking for better living conditions, and others who leave because of environment degradation caused by climate changes.
'All these cases are not the responsibility of UNHCR, because this organism is only to deal with people who, for reasons related to lack of security, or due to wars, threats and conflicts, are forced to abandon their countries.
Statistics of the Mozambican Institute for Support to Refugees (INAR) say that the country is hosting 7,034 refugees and asylum seekers. Of this group, 5,148 are in the Maratane Refugee Centre, which is the biggest in the country.
In terms of their origin, INAR says that 4,563 are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1,317 from Burundi, and the remainder from other countries, such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Sudan, Angola, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Cuba, Eritree, Palestine, among others.
This is Guterres' first visit to Mozambique in his quality as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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