Concord Times (Freetown)
Ibrahim Tarawallie
31 October 2008
Freetown — National commission for social action (NaCSA), the institution responsible for the reparation of refugees is experiencing a slow pace with the programme due to delay in accessing the US$3M allocated to them.
The said amount was earmarked by the peace building commission to fast track the reparation process in Sierra Leone.
Director of reparation programme at NaCSA Obi-Buya Kamara Thursday told journalists in Freetown that notwithstanding the delay in accessing the money allocated to them for the reparation process, things were already in place to kick start the process.
"We have not yet received the US$3M which was approved by the peace building commission for the reparation process," he said.
He said the US$3M was only to kick start the process adding that more funds would be needed to go through the process.
"We expect to start the process at the end of the year. 75% of the US$3M would be given to the victims whilst the remaining 25% would be used for operations," he said.
Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA Charles Rogers said most of the funds needed for the reparation process should be made available by government of Sierra Leone.
He said they were seriously concerned over the mixed feelings going around on the resettlement and the reparation process noting that people need to cross check with NaCSA office for clarifications.
Senior protection officer at United Nations high commission for refugees (UNHCR) Veronica Modey-Ebi said refugees have the right to repatriate noting that from 2005 to August 2008 , 28, 971 refugees have been repatriated.
She noted that the primary purpose of UNHCR was to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
"UNHCR seeks a lasting solution to the plight of refugees by assisting them to return to their home countries settle them in another country," she said.
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