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Expediting resettlement depends on third country: UNHCR
The speed of implementing resettlement programmes of Burmese refugees depends on the willingness of a third country to accept them, according to an official of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Nga Ngai
Mizzima News: 1 September, 2006
The speed of implementing resettlement programmes of Burmese refugees depends on the willingness of a third country to accept them, according to an official of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
"It is like selling. We have a lot of stocks, what we sell depends on what the buyer wants to buy. And what the buyer buys depends on what he wants," said the programme officer Mr. Asmad Alias of the UNHCR inNew Delhi office.
About 20 Burmese refugees had left for several countries from January to August and 10 are leaving soon.
Financial difficulties followed after UNHCR cut subsistence allowance to the refugees even as they wait move to a third country.
On the resettlement question Mr. Alias refused to raise expectations. "Off course we (UNHCR) would like to solve the problem," he said.
The UNHCR New Delhi office has implemented self reliance programmes for Burmese refugees by finding jobs for them and 165 (including 60 women) are currently benefiting from the pilot basic salary scheme and by increasing subsistence allowance for the newly recognized refugees.
Meanwhile some refugees have blamed UNHCR, New Delhi of not being transparent regarding resettlement programmes. About 400 to 500 refugees have submitted applications at the Australian embassy.