UN reaffirms support to returnees

The United Nations, through its refugee agency, the UN High Commission for Refugees, has pledged to continue extending logistical support towards the voluntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees despite the invocation of the Cessation Clause.The Cessation Clause to terminate status of all Rwandan nationals still under the UN protection in countries of asylum came into force on June 30, leaving refugees with four options, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, seeking renewal of refugee status for those still in need of international protection, or the invocation of the clause.However, during the joint post-cessation clause news briefing with government officials yesterday, UNHCR Country Representative Neimah Warsame said refugees should not worry about their repatriation since the facilitation will continue. “It’s a defining moment for Rwanda and Africa as a continent. We are delighted that we are coming to the closure of this refugees issues. We will continue to bring people home in collaboration with the Rwandan government and the host countries,” she said It emerged during the news conference that some refugees misinterpreted the cessation clause, thinking that it would put an end to assistance to return home.Warsame said they will continue creating awareness among the refugees as well as working together with other partners to find a lasting solution in reintegrating the returnees. What next?Apart from providing travel fare to returnees, the UNHCR also works closely with government and other agencies in offering basic needs such as shelter, food pocket money that are offered to returnees for the six months upon repatriation.Although there is no specific implementation period of the clause imposed on the returnees, officials warned those who fail to follow any of the four options provided may find themselves in an awkward situation.Concerning the next step, after the cessation clause goes into effect, the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, said she will, starting today, begin travelling to the host countries before government come up with a roadmap for the next step. Minister to lobbyMukantabana said she will travel to Zambia today and she also has in focus other countries like Malawi, Uganda and Congo-Brazzaville.“We want to know what the host countries are doing if it’s reintegrating the refugees in the communities or supporting them to return or and knowing the statistics of those interested in repatriation,” she said.She said some countries such as Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda, Burundi and Zimbabwe have promised to start implementing the clase, but that DR Congo, the neighbouring country that hosts the majority of refugees, requested for more time to identify those who would be repatriating.The minister reiterated that forms were dispatched to all Rwandan embassies to facilitate those who want to obtain national documents such as passports, especially for those who wish to remain in host countries.In Uganda, it was recently reported that more than 4,000 Rwandan refugees were likely to lose their status.“The reason behind the revocation of refugee status for this category of refugees is that events that led to their displacement no longer exist. Both the governments of Uganda and Rwanda have conducted awareness campaigns to encourage this group of persons to return home,” Ugandan Commissioner for Refugees Apollo Kazungu was quoted as saying last week.

National

UN reaffirms support to returnees