90,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled in the US

Kathmandu / Sept 20: The number of Bhutanese refugees being resettled in the United States of America from their camps in Nepal has reached 90,000.

At a function held at the US Embassy here Tuesday, US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B. Teplitz bid farewell to Sarimaya Thatal, who happens to be the 90,000th Bhutanese refugee to be resettled in the US.

Thatal is leaving for the US tomorrow with her four children to begin a new life in New Hampshire of US, according to the Embassy.

On the occasion, Ambassador Teplitz said the Nepali people and government have been hosting the Bhutanese Refugees kind heartedly for many years and added that third-country resettlement has in the recent years become the most successful management of the refugees.

She said that it was important to seek long-term solution to the problem of refugees now left in Nepal though the international community has urged the Bhutanese government to return the refugees, who wish to go back to their nation.

Thatal, who had spent over 20 years in refugee camp in Nepal, expressed the confidence that it would be a new opportunity for her and her off-springs after reaching the US.

Chief of International Organization of Migrants (IOM) in Nepal Paul Norton and Nepal Representative from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Refugees Kevin Allen were also present at the programme.

The number of Bhutanese refugees resettled in the third countries has reached half million. The refugees living in the eastern districts of Jhapa and Morang were provided third country resettlement with the collaboration of UNHCR, IOM and Australia, Canada, Netherland, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Britain and the USA since 2007. RSS