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Liberia: More Liberian Refugees Return


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The Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (Monrovia)

PRESS RELEASE
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008

In continuation of the accelerated repatriation of Liberian refugees from the West African sub region, the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recently assisted in the voluntary repatriation of 217 Liberian refugees from the Buduburam camp in Ghana. On Friday, 9^th May 2008, 114 refugees arrived, while a group of 80 returned on Sunday, 11^th May. At the same time, on Monday, 12 May, 23 refugees arrived. The three groups arrived on board UNMIL flights.

The returnees were received by LRRRC, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization and UNHCR upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport. Later, the groups were transported to the LRRRC managed Transit Center in Schefflin, Margibi County where they were screened.

Some of the returnees are being sheltered temporarily at the transit center while they contact their relatives for departure to their respective areas of origin or preference.

The repatriation of Liberian refugees from Ghana formally resumed following a Tripartite Committee meeting held between the Governments of Liberia and Ghana as well as UNHCR in Accra, Ghana, on 16 April 2008. An estimated 200 returnees are expected to arrive from Ghana by two shared UNMIL flights each week in the coming months. Prior to departure from Ghana, the refugees are provided with a return package.

The UNHCR organized voluntary repatriation exercise for Liberian refugees began in October 2004 and officially ended on 30 June 2007. During that period, 7,021 out of a total of 47,450 Liberian refugees returned from Ghana (112,256 Liberian refugees were facilitated to return from countries of asylum in West Africa). Out of the more than 75,000 residual caseload of Liberian refugees in the region, 26,000 of them reside in Ghana.

Relevant Links

West Africa
Conflict, Peace and Security
Ghana
Liberia
Refugees and Displacement

Since the accelerated repatriation process for Liberian refugees commenced on 13^th April 2008, enthusiasm for return has been growing among the refugee population. More returnees are expected from Ghana this week.


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