Thousands of Burundians have returned home after years of refugee life in Tanzania, but finding shelter and enough land to farm remains a challenge.

"Fifteen percent of long-term returnees repatriated this year are landless," said Léon Ndikunkiko, spokesman for the Ministry of National Solidarity, National Reconstruction, Human Rights and Gender.

In mid-August, some 1,200 returnees were stranded in Makamba Province, waiting to be resettled. By October, only 200 had been resettled in Gitara by the government, while the others were still waiting in temporary sites, according to Ndikunkiko.

About 450,000 Burundians have been repatriated from Tanzania with the help of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), since 2002. This year, the numbers increased after the Tanzanian government decided to close the camps by December.

By mid-September, some 75,000 had returned to Burundi, including 17,392 long-term refugees. While some had been away since 1972, others had never seen their homeland, having been born in exile or left as children.

Many, however, have come back to find their houses destroyed or occupied by other people.

"Local administration officials have been instructed to allocate [returnees] a 50m x 50m space to build a house regardless of the availability of his [or her] land," Ndikunkiko. "However, this is not always the case since those who stayed on the land sometimes refuse."

Finding land to resettle the returnees is a big concern for the government. "The Ministry of Land Management has to identify the land and puts it at the disposal of the Ministry of National Solidarity," he explained. "It is a long process which takes time and this delays the resettlement of returnees."

A survey conducted by the National Land Commission in December to identify available land or land belonging to the state in the hands of individuals, found that just 4,500 people, mostly returnees, had been resettled.

In situations where they have somewhere to go, the returnees are being offered building materials - although there are often delays depending on the period of repatriation. For example, returnees arriving in October have to wait until June to benefit from the shelter project.

As they wait, the returnees rely on relatives. Others are supported by UNHCR, which constructs temporary shelters for them.

Land disputes

While efforts are being made to address the problem of shelter, land remains a crucial challenge. "Even those who have their land are not resettled immediately," Ndikunkiko said. Land, he added, had become too scarce to accommodate Burundi's increasing population.

Frequent land disputes were now the reason for crime. Local radio stations reported on 23 August that a man blasted a grenade at a wedding ceremony, killing 15 people and injuring more than 60.

On 29 September, a grenade was thrown through a window of a house in the northern Ngozi Province, killing a man and his wife, leaving a baby. Preliminary investigations blamed land disputes.
Michel Nintije, a sociologist who was part of a team that conducted a study on land tenure and alternative solutions in September, has suggested that Burundi prepare a nationwide programme of sensitisation on the land issue.

Nestor Niyonkuru, information officer at the national commission on land and other properties (CNTB), said many of the disputes involved returnees and current occupants of the land.

CNTB was set up in 2006 to assist returnees and other landless people recover their land or other lost properties. As at 4 October, it had registered 11,200 land disputes and solved 2,279.

The government, in an attempt to cater for landless returnees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable people, has also embarked on building villages in some provinces, each housing 250 families.

However, much more needs to be done. According to UNHCR, 80 percent of returnees have no access to land. Worse still, most of them come from the provinces of Makamba, Rutana and Bururi where pressure on land is high.

For its part, the government pleads inadequate resources for full resettlement and reintegration of the returnees.

"If you resettle the returnees and they have no water, no health-centre nearby, it is not viable," Ndikunkiko said.

IRIN 

Fatou Barry Officer-In-Charge, UNHCR , in her welcome remarks says, “There is a greater consciousness today of refugees by parliamentarians, security officials and other stakeholders of our various roles to protecting refugees and other persons of concern and ensuring that collectively, we provide them with the sanctuary to seek and enjoy protection from persecution.”

Protecting refugees she said, is the primary responsibility of States which is why, it is very encouraging when UNHCR receives request from stakeholders such as Gambian parliamentarians requesting to be provided with workshops such as today to enable them fulfill their roles effectively. It is even more encouraging to see the level of support provided by parliamentarians to the Refugee Bill that we envisage will soon be passed this year as law. “We congratulate you on your genuine dedication to service and towards the development of The Gambia,” she said.

Fatou Barry thanked the Gambia government for their support in the area of protection.

Commissioner Seedy Touray from the Immigration Department said it was the third time UNHCR was embarking on such an important sensitization and also trying to see that the bill on Refugee Laws is debated and brought into law. Gambia is one of the few countries that have not got the Refugee Bill and theCommission. “I appeal to the to parliamentarians to expedite the bill and make it into law.

Benedicta Voos, Associate Protection Officer from Dakar in her deliberation, talking about the over all objective said it is to gain a common understanding on what refugee is and what international protection means. She said participants need to know who is a refugee. She gave the history of UNHCR .

What is UNHCR? Benedicta asked. UNHCR, she said is a humanitarian and non-political organisation established to help refugees. They are mandated to provide international protection to refugees. If State does not ensure protection to its citizens, then international protection comes into play. International protection is surrogate, substitute and temporary.

TO SEEK DURABLE SOLUTIONS TO REFUGEE PROBLEMS:

1.Voluntary repatriation to country of origin.

2.Local Integration in the country of Asylum.

3.Reference for resettlement to third country, though the final decision rests entirely on the country.

Benedicta Voos talking on UNHCR’s protection activities said there were mixed migration and International Protection. Stephanie Lepoutre defined economic migrants and said they are those who go for money but it is a generic term. “Those people may have been deprived from getting a good job due to their tribe, political background or so, that makes the person move to another country that is an economic migrant. Some people may find it difficult to get a job in their country due to their religious background, tribal, political or something and so they go to find it elsewhere becoming economic migrant.”

Benedict Voos continued talking on the concept of international protection and mentioned the legal framework of the International Refugee Protection. She mentioned International laws and standards, regional laws and standards and national laws and standards. She says, “This year The Gambia will ratify their law and use it in line with refugees,” she said. She said the international laws and standards the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees, which defines the term refugees having geographical and historical constraints in the 1967 refugee protocol.

Benedicta Voos defined the word refugee according to the 1957 Convention as a well-founded fear of persecution because of ones race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. (Article 1A of Geneva Convention.) She further gave the OAU definition of a refugee and gave refugee definition under UNHCR Mandate.

She said there were exclusion clauses for those who have committed war crime or crime against humanity. Those who committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge prior to admission to that country were excluded from being admitted as refugees.

Benedicta further gave five points on Cessation, which comes into effect come December 31, 2008 for Sierra Leonean refugees.

1.Voluntarily accepts the protection of his country.

2.Voluntarily re-acquires his nationality after losing it,

3.Acquires new nationality and enjoys the protection of that country,

4.Has voluntarily re-established him or herself in the country which he left owing to fear of persecution,

5.Can no longer refuse to accept the protection received and many others.

She said there were possible exceptions of cessation that is the continuous need for international protection, e.g. Sierra Leonean refugees who have compelling reasons arising from previous persecution. This has to be well founded before the protection is given again.

Stephanie Lepoutre said other ECOWAS citizens who are not refugees but live in The Gambia cannot be protected by UNHCR by UNHCR. Commissioner Seedy Touray said the eligible Commission would have the mandate to interview the asylum seeker and members of the said commission to be taken from stakeholders.

Looking at succession, she said they must look at two exceptions. UNHCR has ten points plan for mixed-migration. Stephanie said lots of money is giving to Mali to control migration. Computers are given to them as well. “We also try to be at border crossings though not easily possible. We do it in Mali and also in Senegal. Refugee issue in West Africa is difficult. Getting refugees status in Senegal is really difficult.” Stephanie said Senegal is really difficult to gain refugee status. She dismissed the notion that people who travel through several countries only to come to The Gambia to seek refuge was not right. She said Senegalese were seen in Argentina seeking refuge even when there was a language barrier. You can be a refugee in line with the five points to become a refugee. People can be refugees anywhere depending on the destination they get visas for.

Some 6,300 Sierra Leonean refugees who have been living in Guinea for 20 years will lose their refugee status as of 1 January 2009 according to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), leaving them with a choice to stay legally in Guinea as Sierra Leonean citizens, or to return home.

"With the return of peace in their country [in 1999], UNHCR no longer sees any reason to leave Sierra Leonean refugees to benefit indefinitely from refugee status,” said Dillah Doumaye, the UNHCR’s top official in Conakry.

The decision applies to all 14,000 Sierra Leonean refugees living in West Africa, according to Doumaye.

Staying on despite difficulties

Sierra Leonean refugees have enjoyed international refugee protection rights for two decades, and until 2004 those remaining in camps in Guinea’s forest regions were still receiving monthly food aid from the World Food Programme and non-governmental organisations, as well as medical attention.

Since 2004, refugees, most of them living in towns and cities, were still eligible to receive equipment to help them set up small businesses such as hairdressing, sewing, or gardening.

Under the 1951 Refugee Convention’s protection, no refugee can be abused, arbitrarily arrested or forced to return to their country of origin if they should suffer persecution there.

But despite losing these privileges and enduring the difficulties of living in a country that is prone to civil unrest, widespread unemployment and endemic poverty according to the UN, most Sierra Leoneans are opting to remain in Guinea.

Refugee spokesman Mohamed Lamine Tarawally has lived in the capital Conakry since 1998. "I will opt to integrate and I am ready to assume all the consequences of the end of our status as refugees,” he said. “I prefer to die in Guinea, and I won't return to my country, where…the information that I receive from Sierra Leone makes me think the regime there has not completely changed.”

He continued, “I do not really know what my future holds here in Guinea, where we sometimes experience violence such as in the 2007 strikes, but I intend to stay here for a long time."

Tarawally says he makes his living by transporting rubbish from companies and individuals to open dumps around the capital.

Josephine Téah, mother of 10, lives in Coléah, a district of Conakry, and she too chooses to remain.

“There are days when we do not find to eat and we are afraid of the resurgence of organised crime in Guinea. Here I live miserably with my children, but I lost everything [in Sierra Leone]. My husband was brutally killed by the rebels. I prefer my current situation over returning to my country.”

To better prepare for her change in status she has started selling cakes in her neighbourhood for US$2.50 per day.

UNHCR support

Heads of households who wish to return to Sierra Leone will receive US$100 from the UNHCR and their children US$50, as well as help with transport, according to UNHCR. And for those who stay, the organisation will help them acquire Sierra Leonean citizenship papers and voter cards so they can participate in future elections.

According to UNHCR, Sierra Leoneans are among some 23,000 refugees who live in Guinea, with the others coming from mostly Liberia and Ivory Coast.

IRIN 

Up to 100,000 Nigerians displaced from Bakassi in southern Nigeria are sheltering in makeshift camps 10 kilometres away in the state of Akwa Ibom. More keep arriving according to the Nigerian Red Cross, leading local authorities to fear an impending humanitarian crisis.

The influx has overwhelmed Akwa Ibom’s local authorities who are struggling to feed, shelter, clothe and medicate the returnees, most of whom have come empty-handed, according to local journalist Tommy Solomon.

Aniekan Umanah, Akwa Ibom’s information commissioner, warned IRIN “There is no way we can handle things for much longer.”

Umanah told IRIN they have received no assistance from the federal government, and are relying on non-governmental organisations like the Nigerian Red Cross.

Okon Eyo, 45, a now homeless fisherman and father of seven has tried to access dwindling emergency supplies at Mbo camp in Akwa Ibom. “We want the federal government to move in quickly and assist us,” he pleaded. “We want to get on with our lives. We don’t want this thing to drag for too long.”

Government help slow to arrive

Nigerians started fleeing Bakassi following the 14 August 2008 ceremony between the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, which officially handed over administration of the disputed Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.

According to Umanah, Akwa Ibom received 75,000 returnees over the last two weeks of August. Just when local authorities believed the last returnees had arrived, 20 more buses came in early September. “We were helpless. We had to shelter them in a local school and make arrangements for their food and security. We don’t know when it will end.”

The Nigerian National Boundary Commission, which helped steer the Bakassi handover, pledged more than US$7 million in federal funds to resettle Nigerian nationals from the disputed territory into the neighbouring Cross River state. But none of this funding was slated for Akwa Ibom, according to Florence Ita-Giw, head of the presidential task force on Bakassi returnees.

As a result. many returnees may not be eligible for federal help. The National Boundary Commission also set up the government’s aid package expecting people with family in other parts of the country to return there, according to Tunde Orebiyi, national secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross.

Returnees to Cross River have as yet seen little government help.

Ita-Giw with the national government, counsels patience. “We are working hard to make as many houses ready [as possible] for occupation by the returnees, but it can’t be done overnight,” she told IRIN. The Red Cross’ Orebiyi has warned resettlement can take as long as one year.

Resentment

Some 300,000 Nigerians lived in Bakassi before its transfer to Cameroon. In the process leading up to the handover, authorities had discussed a transitional arrangement allowing joint administration by Nigeria and Cameroon for an initial period to guarantee the fair treatment of Nigerians left behind.

But this was not put in place, according to returnees and journalist Solomon.

“The returnees said most of them were being terrorised by the Cameroonian police and they did not find life easy under the new ruling,” Solomon explained. According to him, the Cross River authorities are investigating reports that Cameroonian soldiers recently killed Nigerians in Bakassi.

Mambou Deffo Roland, chief of the Cameroonian military police, declined to comment on these allegations.

But in a 21 August speech following the handover, Cameroon President Paul Biya assured the safety of Bakassi-based Nigerians. “I reassure them: their safety and rights will continue to be guaranteed, they will be able as in the past, to continue their lives in peace as long as they abide by the laws of Cameroon.”

Some Nigerians took their loss of Bakassi with outrage, accusing the government of betraying them.

An activist in Bakassi, who asked to remain anonymous, said lingering resentment among returnees could escalate into a full-blown insurgency.

The peninsula has suffered attacks by both Nigerians and Cameroonians over the past year, with casualties registered on both sides.

But the Nigerian military is keen to play down such fears. “There is absolutely no security threat,” said Nigerian military spokesman Mohammed Yusuf, “Threats by whom, to whom?” he asked. “Nothing is happening. There is no problem in Bakassi.”

Nigeria and Cameroon have been praised for the peaceful resolution of their border dispute in a conflict-prone continent with colonial era borders.

But for some the pain incurred by the recent re-drawing of the map will be slow to subside. A prominent Bakassi chief Edet Okon told IRIN, “The emotional and sentimental attachment to one’s ancestral home is not something you can do away with in a short period of time.”

IRIN 

Thousands of civilians who fled clashes between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forces and militia groups in North Kivu Province are returning home but lack food, a humanitarian official said.

"The food situation is deteriorating and the number of children admitted in the special centres for malnutrition cases has doubled in the last three months," said Olga Miltcheva, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the DRC.

Clashes in the Nyamilima area of Rutshuru, 50km north of the capital, Goma, this year have forced at least 40,000 people to flee their homes, according to aid workers. Many sought refuge in other areas within North Kivu and in neighbouring Uganda, living with other families or in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

Following a lull, many of the IDPs were now going home.

Miltcheva said the ICRC had distributed at least 680 tonnes of food, along with seeds and farming implements.

"These supplies will [support] their immediate food needs; the seeds will help the people to be self-sufficient as they prepare for the next planting season," she said. The situation, she added, had been aggravated by the bad harvest.

Aid workers were also worried about security for the returnees following reports of militia movements not far from the area of return.

According to Congolese army officials, the militias were suspected to be allied to dissident general Laurent Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the Congolese (CNDP).

"These movements by CNDP troops are among several," Colonel Delphin Kahimbi, the deputy army commander in North Kivu, told IRIN. "Nkunda is still recruiting and training people, contrary to the Goma peace accord."

The accord, signed on 23 January in Goma, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, disengagement of troops and the creation of a buffer zone to separate the parties to the conflict in eastern DRC.
Kahimbi denied reports that the Congolese had recently acquired more ammunition for the army, and delivered it in 10 planes to Goma. "The issue of the planes is a false allegation, the army has not yet taken any decision or step despite the movements and recruitments within the CNDP camps," he added.

The UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) said the reported CNDP movements had not been confirmed.

"At the moment, MONUC does not have information on the movements, but we have information on the recruitments and other violations of the ceasefire accord," Sylvie van Wildenberg, MONUC spokeswoman, said. This, she added, had resulted from "lack of trust between the different parties".

According to aid workers, North Kivu is over-militarised, with up to 50,000 people bearing arms, most of them in the south.

The Congolese army has an estimated 20,000 soldiers in the province, while the armed groups, including the Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR), Mayi-Mayi militiamen and troops loyal to Nkunda, account for the rest.

The FDLR comprises groups of armed Hutu groups, many of them remnants of militias largely blamed for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and has been active in eastern DRC for more than a decade.

The UN estimates the violence has forced at least 850,000 people to abandon their homes.

IRIN

Sierra Leonean refugee women have cried with pity to the main refugee body in The Gambia for assistance in different aspects on World Refugee Day at the Stadium Hostel.

A good number of refugee women have made a passionate appeal to UNHCR The Gambia to consider assisting them with micro finance, skills training and to empower their training of trainers stating that most of them were single parents.

Zainab Kamara said, “We are aware of the decision for Sierra Leonean refugees, but they should also consider that poverty makes a lot of people fear going home and if that is the case then we need empowerment that will enable us integrate or return home empowered. We are single parents but we have tried to keep a good standard with no ones assistance, this time we want their assistance to boost us up.”

Christiana Kamara, refugee chairperson, reiterated their quest for skills training as many Sierra Leonean women can read and have the potential to excel in any training offered to them as long as they are catered for. “We are appealing also for microfinance to enable business minded refugees to embark on business enterprises to uplift their status thus returning home with dignity and pride. Without this things will fall apart.” 

Mabel Prosper Gbondo, one of the female refugees, in tears said she wants to study mass communication but has attempted three times but could not make it due to the money involved. “If UNHCR can help us to train, be equipped and give us the opportunity to be part of the microfinance loan scheme, then they would have empowered us to either return home or to integrate as already suggested. We want empowerment.” Some of the women were in tears for their plight and heart rendering stories and are soliciting the authorities for understanding.” Elizabeth Alladin asked for UNHCR’s understanding and to help women refugees before the cessation clause is applied, come December.

The UNHCR, Gambia responsible for refugee protection and security has again contributed to the refugee farming committee around the Fonis in their distribution centre at Bwiam. The refugees who fled the rebel activities in the Casamance region have been assisted by the UNHCR along the border between Senegal and The Gambia around Foni. Some of the refugees claim they arrived here in 2006 and have always embarked on farming as it their job back home. UNHCR under Sekou Saho has gone all out to search for these refugees. Last year a large consignment of seeds were given to the refugees to farm but the farming in that area could not strive due to the climate. More seeds have been given to them again at their distribution centre in Bwiam to start planting. Society and Development’s anchorman traveled with Fatou Barry, the refugee Protection Officer, who was overseeing the distribution. Anchorman fisrt spoke to Mr. Sekou Saho at his office at Kotu and this is what he had to say:

S&d: Who would benefit from your distribution since refugee hosts would need seeds for themselves!

UNHCR Saho: Refugee farmers will benefit; that is Senegalese refugees based in Foni area, Western Region.  

S&D: What type of seeds are you distributing to these refugee farmers?

UNHCR Saho: We are giving them groundnut, maize and sorghum. This will be distributed to over 145 families bought by UNHCR for distribution by UNHCR and their implementing partners, the Gambia Red Cross Society.

S&D: Is this your first time reaching out to refugees from that end?

UNHCR Saho: Oh no! This is not our first time. Last year we gave them a good consignment of seeds which they planted but it was unfortunate that the yield was no good so they had to loose the seeds. That is why this time round we came again to see that they get the seeds and plant them in good time, I am sure it will help them a lot and they will get plenty of harvest this time.

S&D: Do you have any aim for doing this?

UNHCR Saho: Yes! One of our aims is to create self-sufficiency among the rural refugees. Secondly, to reduce food insecurity stress in the refugee communities and to counter long term dependency on food aid.

S&D: How many refugees have you helped with seeds from last year to this distribution you are on now?

UNHCR Saho: in 2007, a total of 131 refugee farmers received similar assistance from UNHCR. However because of erratic rainfall pattern, the harvest was poor and the refugees continue needing food assistance.

The recipients themselves were bold to talk to the Point to express their happiness and sadness over their displaced situations and hoping for a settlement to return to where they know better. News had it that at a stage the fighting intensified in Casamance and the rebels turned against the poor farmers and started taking away their food or crops they had toiled for. They cut the ears of the farmers when they were not satisfied and in some cases they killed them at will. Some refugees have left their homes since 2006 and are seeing around the borders of Gambia and Senegal. Their too it was reported that sporadic gun fire is impeding the farming process and refugees now find it difficult to do their farming as villagers of Bapai are in complete fear of the unknown. But on the Gambian side, like along Foni, it has not proved so difficult for refugees, thus the UNHCR providing seeds for this planting season. Society spoke to Siaka Bojang who has lived in Bwiam since he ran in 2006 from the war and now has these answers during their seed supply at Bwiam cluster.

S&D: Where did you live in Casamance and when did you come?

Siaka Bojang: I come from Tokara and I left in August 16, 2006 to The Gambia. I have not been able to return since then due to the war there.

S&D: What are you going to do with the seeds UNHCR is giving you today?

Siaka Bojang: I have already brushed my farm plot, I am going to plant. I have built a house in Bajankoto and I have about twenty one siblings with me. We are going to work very hard on our farm to multiply the seeds given to us today. I have many people with me I am only appealing to UNHCR to increase the seeds to meet the needs of my twenty one siblings.

S&D: What would you do then in this case?

Siaka Bojang: “Contant toi de se que tu as.” Meaning “You are happy as to what you have.” If the seed is plenty then one gets more yield to live on, we are farmers we can do more to produce more if more is there. You know we are many in the house we cannot be on the same wave length with those who have small families.

S&D: What is your final word to UNHCR?

Siaka Bojang: To UNHCR I say, “Alam du lilai, a rabi ara min.” Since we were in Casamance we were given seeds by WFP and every month we showed what we had. Our work will go on here with committees which will help the groups and individuals and we have committees from Bwiam to Faraba Sutu. If UNHCR gives us their ears a lot can be achieved as we are refugees. We are very happy and pleased that the refugees are been helped especially by the UNHCR boss, Mr. Sekou Saho and our hard working lady Fatou Barry, the Protection Officer. God will help and bless them for their relentless effort in helping us, not forgetting Lamin. Thank you.

Mansata Jarju, another refugee, a mother of several children represented her husband who was busy with their kids at home. She still remembers her home and recalled how she came since two years ago. I started by asking her how many of them were in their family.

Mansata Jarju: We are ten in our family and are all at home. My husband is with boys that have just been circumcised caring for them. We have been here for two years now.

S&D: Is this the first time UNHCR is giving you seeds to plant?

Mansata Jarju: No even last year we were given some seeds but the yield was poor due to the climate. We have been planting since we came here and thanks to God for what we have today. At the end of this farming season I shall be able to get more on top of what has been received from UNHCR today.

S&D: Any last words to UNHCR?

Mansata Jarju: Yes! They are very helpful and understanding. They made us feel at home and people respect us because we are not just sitting and idling but we are seeing doing something good for ourselves. And we shall continue to do well and shall return home with something substantial some day.

According to Fatou Barry, the Protection Officer at UNHCR during the registration and distribution says, “Food supplement is supplied by WFP these we are giving is for farming purposes. This shall continue until every one of the refugees receives enough for their planting.” Their implementing partners, the Red Cross represented by Lamin, in charge of the distribution expressed satisfaction and enthusiasm during the distribution, as he compared last year’s distribution that was marred by heavy rains.

UNHCR informs all refugees that Friday, 20th June, 2008 will be World Refugee Day. All refugees are invited at the Friendship Hotel at Bakau to commemorate the day. Be it Liberian, Sierra Leonean, Ivory Cost, Casamance or more should come.

UNHCR, responsible for the safety of refugees in The Gambia recently gathered refugees after conscientising the security forces before. Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees were in their number attending the meeting with personnel from the UNHCR headquarters in Dakar giving their input in the refugee laws. The two trained lawyers dilated on the issues pertinent to the refugees. Aware of the constraints refugees face and the looming cut off of assistance to refugees, who are also head bent on possible persecutions and difficulties they fear to return home, UNHCR is concerned about refugee return to their homes and refugees pointed out most of their fears in a form of questions posed to the facilitators, Benedicta and Sonia from the UNHCR headquarters in Dakar.

Present at the one day seminar at Girl Guides were Sonia, the senior legal Protection Officer, a trained lawyer by profession, Benedicta, a Focal Point for The Gambia, Mr. Saho UNHCR Gambia, Mr. Ceesay GAFNA, Mr. Cox, Commissioner Touray of the Immigration Department, the focal point for refugees in The Gambia, while Fatou Barry, the Protection officer for refugees in The Gambia was busy with the logistics of the seminar.

Mr. Cox of GAFNA said they cannot do everything, so they ask the authorities to help. “A team has come from Dakar to talk on your right. We also had such with the police and the Immigration to know what governs you.”

Welcoming everyone to the gathering, Mr. Saho said it was very important a meeting through which refugees will ask pertinent questions to these lawyers working for UNHCR. “We have monthly meetings and we have monthly meetings with refugees on their issues. We brought junior immigration officers yesterday and they understood what they did not know. They are the ones who harass or come in contact with you. We know Sierra Leone and Liberia have peace but we have to consolidate that peace.

Sonia, the Senior Legal Protection Officer at the Dakar UNHCR office, said she insisted on the security to respect refugees. We had a seminar with the security, who are the ones who harass refugees. “We always ask the refugees to behave themselves always.”

In her presentation Benedicta the Focal Point for refugees in Dakar pointed out the options for durable solutions for Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees in The Gambia.

She point out what they would discuss including: –Mandate, Refugee cycle, Some figures of Sierra Leone and Liberian refugees in West Africa, Local integration strategy in West Africa, Local integration, what does it mean? Overview of the refugee situation in The Gambia, and question and answer. She talked about the objectives, saying that refugee state is a temporary measure that is why UNHCR try to talk to government for integration. 1) To enable refugees to realistically make a choice or option. 2) To understand the temporary nature of refugee status and need to find a solution. 3) To inform refugees on available options for durable solution in The Gambia and 4) to finally enable refugees to realistically make a choice or option.

Talking on their mandate, Benedicta said UNHCR provides international protection to refugees (admission to country of asylum and non-refoulement). International law stipulates the non return of a refugee to the country they are running from. (International protection). It is the first and primary responsibility of a state. The international protection is surrogate or temporary.

To find a durable and permanent solution for refugees: 1) Local integration in the country of asylum. 2) Reference for resettlement to 3rd country. (There is no right to resettlement. The option depends on the country. Sonia said, “Resettlement is not an option, don’t loose your time, you will be here fifty years waiting and your children will live their lives here instead of going home to do some good work to develop yourselves. We can try our best in severe cases but it depends on the country and government. The countries of resettlement have embassies in your country. Whatever we tell them they will go to verify in your area at home. Only when states do not comply with their own resolutions then UNHCR contains the mechanism for ensuring protection to refugees.”

There are three durable solutions Benedicta pointed out: 1) Voluntary repatriation, safety return home in dignity. 2) Local integration, care and maintenance versus self-reliance opportunities. 3) Resettlement to a third country: criteria include medical, torture, these are what we check for, is it possible by governments to accept them?

 Sonia said after finding out one cannot be protected you go to the next country and straight ask the authorities that you are looking for protection; your life is in danger. “Examafici” is given to you until your claim is examined and you are given a refugee protection. You can appeal and you may gain it. After gaining human rights, you are no to think of a durable solution. Some are nationlised.

Benedicta said in seven countries in West Africa there are about 78, 902 Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees.

Under local integration Benedicta gave the preparatory activities to local integration including mass information session with refugees.  2) You will stay as ECOWAS citizen with free movement. President Jammeh removing alien card for Sierra Leoneans is an already step forward.

Plans:

-           ECOWAS or national passport to guarantee your return.

-           Work permit/resident permit.

-           Liberians would be provided with identity

-           The passports would be provided by the relevant authorities.

She said application of the cessation clause in The Gambia for Sierra Leonean refugees will end at the end of 2008, UNHCR will probably declare the cessation clause for Sierra Leonean refugees. No date has been set for Liberian refugees.

Options:

1.         Voluntary repatriation to Sierra Leone or Liberia.

2.         Local integration in The Gambia as an ECOWAS citizen, those who want to resettle should do so before cessation takes place.

3.         Only refugees who register with UNHCR and GID prior to 30th June 2007.

4.         We provide $50 to kids and $100 for adults

Local integration:

Provision of national or ECOWAS passport and a residential and work permit B, aliens’ card supported financially by UNHCR. Those who accept passport means you need no more international protection, no more financial assistance.

Remaining a refugee:

Upon cessation time is limited and will cease to be refugees when cessation is evoked. Sonia said she needs refugees want to remain a refugee shall verify any information. Remaining a refugee does not mean an option for resettlement. “You need to justify why you want international protection to stay here as a refugee, there should be strong fear of persecution.” Sonia said.

The UNHCR has done their verification, causing some refugees to believe that they were to going for resettlement. Some believe that UNHCR was not saying the truth to them and were trying to hide the truth. After series of explanations and clarifications, more refugees still fear returning home and others have expressed their unhappiness in remaining their host country because they believe those whom they betrayed are shuttling between The Gambia and Sierra Leone and that makes it unsafe for them. They are scared about the black magic they may use to get them perish. Some who want to integrate fear that they cannot be integrated and become like true Gambians. Others pointed out the government’s desire announcing that employers should have only a minimal number of foreign employees in their establishments. They believe this would limit their getting good jobs as integrated refugees.

Meanwhile Foard Kanu, the refugee president and his team are forging ahead to get people to register for repatriation, explaining that there is no simple way to resettlement that people should give their names for repatriation or integration to be on the safe side because according to UNHCR repatriation was quite slim.

The refugees expressed a lot of fear to return to their homes again. Some said they were members of some secret societies and were seen as betrayers during the war and now that the war is over they cannot go there since they have settled down they would revenge on their betrayers like them. Some said they were hunted and those who did are still behind them though not seen easily around but Gambia is not far from Sierra Leone. Foard Kanu, the president of the refugees said many have their own stories and they should be listened to. “Many houses were burnt and many refugees cannot return home. There is no place to lay their head.” The refugee body appealed to the UNHCR body to consider them by helping them to resettle so as to build their families. “Many of us have appalling stories.” A Liberian refugee remarked. There was talk delivered on peace building by Fabakary Kalleh.