In 2010, UNHCR’s Nepal operation ran the largest resettlement programme in the world, sending some 14,800 refugees, originally from Bhutan, to third countries. Since the large-scale operation began at the end of 2007, more than 40,000 refugees have been resettled. Of the 20,500 refugees referred to resettlement countries in 2010, 99 per cent were accepted.
In December, the Government of Nepal formally endorsed UNHCR’s proposal on camp consolidation and a community-based development programme in refugee-affected and hosting areas in the remote eastern districts of Nepal. The proposal was prepared in close consultation with UN agencies and other stakeholders.
To prevent and reduce statelessness, UNHCR continued to work closely with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the citizenship policies adopted as part of Nepal’s new constitution are consistent with international standards. Working environment A political stalemate persisted in the country for more than six months, as Parliament failed to elect a new prime minister despite 16 rounds of voting following the resignation of Madhav Kumar Nepal in June 2010. Due to the political situation, the deadline for drafting the new constitution had to be extended for another year. Despite intermittent strikes called by different political parties and social groups, refugee camps remained largely accessible to UNHCR and its NGO partners.
Some preliminary studies indicate that at least 800,000 people in Nepal, mostly from disadvantaged groups, do not possess citizenship certificates. In addition, the citizenship provisions in the current draft constitution put people at risk of statelessness. Nepal has not acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, and has no domestic asylum law. In the absence of formal refugee legislation, the Government has adopted different approaches for different refugee populations.
UNHCR continued to search for durable solutions, mostly through the large-scale resettlement of refugees from Bhutan, while simultaneously ensuring adequate protection and assistance in the camps. Protection was provided to all urban refugees and asylum-seekers, with particular attention to those with specific needs. UNHCR assisted Tibetans in transit through Nepal, worked to ensure their access to protection and advocated for greater legal integration of long-staying Tibetan refugees in the country. At least half of the estimated 15,000 Tibetan refugees living in Nepal remain unregistered and undocumented. Advocacy on citizenship and the prevention of statelessness continued throughout the year.
#Refugees #AsylumSeekers #UNHCR
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Publisher:
UNHCR
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(2011
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Type / Script:
Annual Report
in English
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Keywords:
REFUGEES, MIGRANTS, BHUTANESE, BHUTAN, MYANMAR REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, DISPLACED PERSONS, REFUGEE ASSISTANCE, REFUGEE CAMPS, REFUGEE LAW, REFUGEE PLACEMENT, REFUGEE PROTECTION, REFUGEE STATUS, REFUGEE-RECEIVING COUNTRIES, RESETTLEMENT POLICY
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Thematic Group:
UNHCR
:
Refugees and Migration
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Thesaurus:
13.01.00
- Protection Of And Assistance To Refugees And Displaced Persons
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Reference Link:
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