Refugees not backing down

The Namibian refugees repatriated in 1989 are planning to march next week to the local United Nations office in Windhoek to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement process was done during and after the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435. The refugees are not impressed with the United Nations office in Windhoek, which washed its hands off the matter, saying the demand of the refugees should be in line with the government's plans for reintegration and rehabilitation. The refugees want the UN to make public, a report which they claim, outlines all the repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement processes. “If the UN is a transparent organisation then it should not have a problem with our demand. “I don't know why they are hesitating to give us the report,” said Tito Kamanya, one of the concerned Namibian refugees repatriated in 1989 after spending over 11 years in exile. Kamanya reiterated that Namibian refugees were left to fend for themselves, with no access to humanitarian assistance. The group claims economic support from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs does not address their plight. Citing a field report published in 1990, Kamanya said five UN agencies, which includes Unesco, Unicef, WHO, FAO and the UNHCR worked out a plan to reintegrate Namibian returnees within their home communities. “This plan estimated to cost US$21 705 640 is intended to meet critical short-term needs for individual and family rehabilitation, and to promote self-reliance among its beneficiaries,” the report reads. By 1989, about 58 000 Namibians returned home under the repatriation programme. Most of them were housed in Zambia and Angola as well as 40 other countries including Cuba, Germany and Sierra Leone, among others. On Monday, this week United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, Kiki Gbeho, wrote to the group, saying the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regional office for Southern Africa would address the issue. According to Sharon Cooper, a regional representative of the UNHCR, there were no surplus funds with regard to Namibia's repatriation programme. “In UNHCR operations, any funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year are returned to UNHCR headquarters in Geneva for other operations in subsequent fiscal years. In the case of the Namibia repatriation, there were no surplus funds,” she said. Cooper added that refugees are received by the country of origin to allow the process of integration and rehabilitation. “UNHCR residual protection mandate in repatriation programmes is limited to returnees being received in safety and dignity by the country of origin. “Thereafter, the country of origin is tasked with affecting a reintegration and rehabilitation programme.” The group is planning to march from the Katutura old compound on Tuesday up to the UN office in Klein Windhoek to hand in another petition. STAFF REPORTER

Refugees not backing down

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

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Refugees not backing down

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

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