Talking to US and European envoys, who reached the camps in Jhapa on Tuesday, the refugees requested them to help those unwilling to opt for third country resettlement and wanting to go back to Bhutan.
The refugees also briefed the envoys on the camp situation. “You must help those wanting to return,” Bhanu Dhungana of Khudunabari told the envoys.
He also complained with them about the limited food and clothes supply to the camps.
US ambassador Scott H DeLisi, British envoy Andrew Hall and Danish ambassador Finn Thilsted were among those visiting the camps.
Under the third country resettlement program launched in March 2008, some 31,000 refugees from Jhapa and Morang have left the camps for various countries.
Refugee leaders have been demanding that they should be allowed to return to Bhutan as they argue that third country relocation is not a permanent solution.
Although the media was forbidden in the meeting, some refugees said that the envoys have assured them that they will “try” to do all they can. DeLisi, on the other hand, has said that he is “serious” about the refugee problem and will consider the solution to it.
Some representatives from donor agencies too were seen in the group of visitors.
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