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25th September, 2007
Freetown:
Government and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are collaborating to promote self-reliance among members of the Kissi Town Community in the Western Area Rural District.
Residents of the model experimental settlement of former Sierra Leone Displaced Persons and Liberian Refugees were briefed on details of the project at a one-day sensitization workshop.
NaCSA’s Relief and Resettlement Project Officer Amadu Bangura said the objective of the workshop was to consult with the various community leaders on the next moves in hosting Liberian refugees whose June 30th repatriation deadline has expired. He observed that the 1951 convention on Refugees stipulates that they cannot be forced to leave a country unless they wish to do so.
Mr. Bangura disclosed that to reduce the burden on facilities in the community, Government and the UNHCR have designed a self-reliance project to assist the community, noting that the protocol demands that elders of the community must be consulted for their inputs on amendments to the previous agreement signed by the Government, UN refugee Agency and the Host Community to reflect local integration for Liberians.
Chairperson for the Liberian Refugees, Kebbeh Howard, said she was pleased with the move made by Government, UNHCR and the Kissi Town authorities to revisit the agreement that will regularize the status of Liberians opting for local integration. She noted that Liberians in Kissi Town were concerned about their status in the community since the expiry of the June 30th deadline and the over-stretched facilities in the community. Miss Howard hoped that the self-reliance project will further enhance the livelihood of the Kissi Town Community.
Following extensive discussions, the community Residents and local authorities appealed for funding of future projects, stressing on shelter, water and sanitation, education, agriculture and vocational training. They also agreed that the support ratio among host community and Liberians be placed at equal level.
The views of the Kissy Town Residents are expected to be incorporated into the self-reliance project before its implementation.
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