By P. Lincoln Nyanrue, elincoln1986@gmail.com
Ivorian refugees in Liberia, particularly residing in Grand Gedeh County, are furious. They turned the celebration
of the World Refugee Day sour when they staged a protest demonstration at the Primer Timber Plantation (PTP) and disrupted activities of the day that was expected to humanize them.
The United Nations set aside June 20 each year to recognize the plight of peoples dispelled from the home nations and residing in foreign countries to seek asylum as a result of conflict, famine, oppression and other natural and man-made disasters. The day is also expected to recognize and humanize refugees worldwide.
But Primer Timber Plantation on Tuesday experienced tension when Personals of United National High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) and the Liberia Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) met the Ivoirians refugees. The refugees were clayed in black attire mourning the death of one of their kinsman identified as Christian Siah, who went missing in the forest about three weeks ago and has not returned.
Expressing their frustration to media, Mr. Patrice Bleon, Central Chairman of PTP refugee camp said they couldn’t celebrate when some of their family members are in tears, citing that two people have mysteriously died at the camp. He said the UNHCR, LRRRC and Security apparatus has done nothing about it or even intervention up to present.
Moreover, Mr. Bleon said the demonstration is intended to claim the attention of both local government and the international community about their security at the camp.
The refugees match through the principle streets of PTP and held placards with some messages: “We need protection and food and we are not returning home now because our country Ivory Coast is not yet saved for us to rebuild our lives”.
They used the occasion to express disappointment over the voluntary repatriation exercise by the UNHC for Refugees, which is expected to end Thursday, June 29, 2017. According to latest reports from UNHCR, there are about six thousand (6000) Ivorian refugees living in PTP camp and host communities in Grand Gedeh County.
However, this indicates that the decision by UNHCR and the LRRRC about the voluntary repatriation of the Ivorian refugees in Liberia remains unchanged due.
