The United States of America which announced that it would resettle 60,000 refugees, and even more if needed, received the largest numbers so far – 7,547, said the statement issued by the UN refugee agency.
Departures to Australia total 393, New Zealand 129, Canada 40, Netherlands 27, Norway 24 and Denmark 13.
"We are pleased to see so many refugees starting their lives afresh after living in difficult conditions in the camps for the last 18 years and to learn that those resettled are adapting well in their new country," said Daisy Dell, UNHCR Representative in Nepal.
The resettlement program started in November 2007. Over 60,000 refugees have expressed their interest for resettlement. Some 16,000 – 18,000 refugees are expected to leave Nepal in 2009, UNHCR said. Currently, there are some 103,000 refugees from Bhutan living in seven camps in eastern Nepal; some have been in exile for as long as 18 years.
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