African Focus: Some refugees in Botswana to resettle in a third country: UNHCR
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E-mail Xinhua, April 9, 2014
A UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) official confirmed on Tuesday that plans are underway to resettle some refugees currently residing at the Dukwi Refugee Camp in Botswana following refugees' recent protest over their "poor" conditions in the camp.
Confirming with Xinhua the resettlement of some refugees to a third country, Senior Regional External Relations Officer for the UNHCR Regional Representation for Southern Africa Tina Ghelli explained that the UNHCR is actively supporting Botswana government to identify and pursue durable solutions for refugees in the country.
Ghelli said the UNHCR continue to pursue the three available solutions namely voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement to a third country in order to find a durable solution for refugees.
"Resettlement is also being pursued for certain groups of refugees in close collaboration with resettlement countries and in line with the criteria established in agreement with resettlement countries," Ghelli told Xinhua.
A group of Ugandan refugees staying at Dukwi camp camped outside the building hosting offices of UN representatives to Botswana in early March, protesting what they term "callous" conditions at the camp.
The said they are kept like prisoners without work and travel rights. And they received inadequate food rations.
On December 9, 2013, the Water Utilities Corporation(WUC) of Botswana cut off water supply at the camp due to unpaid high water bill.
Botswana's Defense Ministry failed to confirm if the water supply at the camp is restored as Xinhua's recent effort to get a response from the ministry went futile.
According to UNHCR, Botswana hosts about 3,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Namibia, Somalia and Zimbabwe. They reside in Dukwi camp, where the government provides education and health services.
"The encampment policy is strictly enforced, compromising the ability of refugees to earn a living and leaving them dependant on assistance. Refugees found outside the camp without valid permits can be detained for long periods. This has led to social problems, including survival sex, high school-dropout rates and substance abuse," said UNHCR in its 2014 regional operations profile.
The Ugandan refugees demanded that they be granted citizenship or be resettled in another country.
Without giving a specific number of refugees set to be resettled to a third country, Ghelli admitted that resettlement is a solution for some refugees but not for all.
Ghelli further revealed that the main resettlement countries are the USA, Canada, Australia, the Nordic states saying the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have also resettlement programs.
Before submitting a case for resettlement, Ghelli explained that the UNHCR carefully considers the refugee's status in country of asylum and any particular difficulties he/she is facing.
According to Ghelli, resettlement to a third country is a lengthy process which can take between one to three years from the time of referral until the time of departure.
In 2013, Ghelli said 207 cases for resettlement were referred for resettlement and 78 refugees departed Botswana. Ghelli could not be drawn into discussing the nationalities of the refugees set to be resettled and the planned resettlement is associated with Ugandan refugees' protest.
However, sources have hinted that an assortment of at least 100 refugees from the volatile Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ever hot-blooded Somalia and politically and economically challenged Zimbabwe have been approved for a resettlement to a third country.
Scores of excited refugees at the camp who confirmed the development on condition of total anonymity, told Xinhua they are likely to be resettled to countries like Australia, Canada and USA.
Dukwi Refugee Camp is situated some 160 km northwest of Francistown, Botswana's second largest city situated some 430 km north of the capital city Gaborone. Endi
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