UNHCR concludes a voluntary repatriation program at Batalimo, benefiting more than 6,200 refugees from DRC
UNHCR concludes a voluntary repatriation program at Batalimo, benefiting more than 6,200 refugees from DRC
UNHCR, 12 May 2014
URL: http://www.unhcr.org
On Saturday 10 May 2014, the UN Refugee Agency in the Central African Republic concluded a voluntary repatriation program, which allowed more than 6,200 Congolese refugees to return in dignity and security at the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The refugees were living at the Batalimo camp in the prefecture of Lobaye since 2010.
In particular, through 12 convoys that set out on 10 April 2014, 6,283 people representing 1,502 families were voluntarily repatriated to the transit center of Batanga. From there they continued their journey to cities like Libenge, Businga, Mbandaka and Zongo. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the National Commission for Refugees, the Central African and the Congolese authorities.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the government and the prefecture of Lobaye. You have accepted the refugees as brothers and sisters,” said UNHCR’s Representative in the CAR, Kouassi Lazare Etien at a ceremony that took place on 10 May, before the departure of the last convoy.
The repatriation operation signified the emptying of the Batalimo camp. Its infrastructures passed in the hands of the local authorities, together with material from the UNHCR Field Office. Indicatively, the furniture of the camp’s schools was donated to ten educational institutions in the district, while the camp’s 12 water taps will continue functioning, managed by local committees. With UNHCR support, the camp’s health center will also remain in operation, for the benefit of the local population. UNHCR will bear its running costs till 31 December 2014.
The Congolese refugees that resided in Batalimo were fleeing inter-ethnic clashes at the Equateur Province of DRC. When violence in their country of origin diminished, they expressed the desire to be repatriated. Only three of the camp’s residents opted to stay in the Central African Republic, where they will receive help for their local integration.
UNHCR will continue to support nearly 10,300 refugees and asylum seekers in the CAR, mainly from the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. In neighboring countries, UNHCR provides assistance to more than 360,000 refugees from the Central African Republic in Cameroon, Chad, DRC and the Republic of Congo.
In particular, through 12 convoys that set out on 10 April 2014, 6,283 people representing 1,502 families were voluntarily repatriated to the transit center of Batanga. From there they continued their journey to cities like Libenge, Businga, Mbandaka and Zongo. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the National Commission for Refugees, the Central African and the Congolese authorities.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the government and the prefecture of Lobaye. You have accepted the refugees as brothers and sisters,” said UNHCR’s Representative in the CAR, Kouassi Lazare Etien at a ceremony that took place on 10 May, before the departure of the last convoy.
The repatriation operation signified the emptying of the Batalimo camp. Its infrastructures passed in the hands of the local authorities, together with material from the UNHCR Field Office. Indicatively, the furniture of the camp’s schools was donated to ten educational institutions in the district, while the camp’s 12 water taps will continue functioning, managed by local committees. With UNHCR support, the camp’s health center will also remain in operation, for the benefit of the local population. UNHCR will bear its running costs till 31 December 2014.
The Congolese refugees that resided in Batalimo were fleeing inter-ethnic clashes at the Equateur Province of DRC. When violence in their country of origin diminished, they expressed the desire to be repatriated. Only three of the camp’s residents opted to stay in the Central African Republic, where they will receive help for their local integration.
UNHCR will continue to support nearly 10,300 refugees and asylum seekers in the CAR, mainly from the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. In neighboring countries, UNHCR provides assistance to more than 360,000 refugees from the Central African Republic in Cameroon, Chad, DRC and the Republic of Congo.