UNHCR assists 16,000 Ivorian refugees in their return to Côte d'Ivoire in 2013

MONROVIA, Liberia, 26 November, 2013 (UNHCR):The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Liberia has assisted 16,232 Ivorian refugees to voluntarily return to Côte d'Ivoire this year. The number of refugees repatriated in 2013 is twice the combined total of about 8,000 Ivorian refugees repatriated in 2011 and 2012.

The latest batch of 411 refugees crossed over the Cestos River by boat from Buutuo communities in Nimba County into Douhouba in western Côte d'Ivoire, bringing to total number of refugees to return this year to just over 16,000. Refugees in Maryland County are repatriated by a UNHCR barge crossing the Cavalla River, while those in Grand Gedeh County return home by road convoys through the B’hai border crossing point.

“Last week alone we facilitated the repatriation of more than 1,500 refugees from camps and communities. Together with the Government of Liberia and partners we have achieved our goal of assisting 16,000 refugees to return home in 2013.  We have some additional convoys scheduled to leave in the next few weeks, which means that this number will further increase by end of December,” said UNHCR Representative Khassim Diagne, reiterating that assisting Ivorian refugees to return home in safety and dignity is now the focus of the UN refugee agency operation in Liberia. 

UNHCR commenced the facilitated voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees in October 2011 following the signing of the Tripartite Agreement for the Voluntary Repatriation of Ivorian Refugees between the Governments of Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and UNHCR. The UNHCR works in collaboration with the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission and other partners.

Recently, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire called on Ivorian refugees living in Liberia to return home and contribute to the development of their country. The call was made at the end of a four-day Joint Council of Chiefs and Elders Meeting held in Zwedru, south-eastern Liberia. The meeting was attended by more than 100 chiefs from the two countries and by Ivorian refugee representatives.The 14 representatives from the four refugee camps in Liberia recommended improved security, increase in the repatriation grant, and addressing land disputes as issues that would encourage more returns to Côte d'Ivoire.

Liberia currently hosts nearly 58,000 Ivorian refugees most of whom are living in four refugee camps in Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties.