Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (Monrovia)
18 August 2008
press release
The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has, as of 10 August 2008, assisted 5,811 Liberian refugees to return. Of the total number, 5,437 refugees returned from Ghana, 196 arrived from Guinea, 170 came from Nigeria and 8 returned from Gambia.
The accelerated voluntary repatriation for Liberian refugees, specifically from Ghana, resumed on 13 April 2008, following a Tripartite Commission meeting held in Accra, Ghana, between the Governments of Liberia and Ghana and UNHCR. The meeting stressed that voluntary repatriation remains the preferred option for Liberian refugees in Ghana. The meeting also mandated that 12,000 of the registered population of 26,000 Liberian refugees in Ghana be repatriated by the end of October 2008.
Upon arrival at the Robert’s International Airport (RIA), returnees are received by LRRRC, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) and later transported by the Logistics Service of Liberia (LSL) to the LRRRC managed Transit/Reception Center in Shefflin Town, Margibi County. At the Center, BIN conducts screening to verify status, while the Medical Emergency Relief International (MERCI) carries out medical screening and treatment of minor illnesses before returnees are served hot meal. Additionally, returnees who lost contacts with family members are allowed to stay overnight at the center before departing to their respective areas of return or choice. Recently, 35 returnees who overstayed at the center were transported to Grand Gedeh County by UNHCR in collaboration with LRRRC and LSL.
At the same time, LRRRC and UNHCR on Tuesday, 12 August 2008, presented an update on the accelerated repatriation process to the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL). The Presentation was made during one of ICGL’s regular meetings, held in the Conference room of the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia. The presentation was in response to an invitation extended the two refugee agencies by the ICGL, through the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Mr. Ansumana E. Ceesay. ICGL comprises the American, Ghanaian, and Nigerian Embassies in Liberia. Other members include the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), World Bank, Spain, United Kingdom (UK), Germany and some development partners.
Specifically, LRRRC discussed the challenges faced in the repatriation process, and stressed reintegration needs, with special emphasis on youth unemployment in order to sustain the return and peace process. Members of the delegation included LRRRC’s Executive Director, Cllr. Wheatonia Y. Dixon Barnes, Programme Officer, Mr. Stephen V. Potter and Information Officer, Robert Karpeh Reeves. UNHCR’s Country Representative, Ms. Renata Dubini and Senior Protection Officer, Ms. Sharon Cooper represented their organization.
In response, members of ICGL thanked LRRRC and UNHCR for their relentless efforts to return Liberian refugees in safety and dignity.
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