Nepal - US Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms. Maria Otero, accompanied by a delegation of officials from the US State Department and the US Embassy in Nepal, made a visit to IOM’s transit centre for refugees in Kathmandu this week.  This high-level interest in IOM and UNHCR's work with migrants in Nepal underscored the extensive support that the US government provides to Bhutanese refugees in the country.

IOM houses refugees at the transit centre as an interim measure, after they have been accepted for resettlement and begin their journey from refugee camps to their new homes in the United States.  The centre can accommodate up to 400 refugees at a time, while they are provided with pre-departure cultural orientation and information related to their departure, including what to expect as they travel.  

Ms. Otero and her delegation were received by IOM Nepal Chief of Mission Thomas Sinkovits who gave a briefing on the operations at the camps and in the centre, as well as IOM’s expanding programmes in counter-trafficking, migrants’ rights, labour migration, peace building, disaster preparedness, migrant health, border control and migration policy/management.  

Undersecretary Otero, who is originally from Bolivia, toured the centre and took time to interact with the residents. She noted in the course of her discussions, "the US welcomes Bhutanese refugees and their strong potential to contribute to the social and economic well-being of my country. As a fellow migrant I understand your situation and the challenges as well as joys you will experience in your new life.”
 
The US has taken in the majority of Bhutanese refugees from Nepal, with the total thus far standing at 63,355.  They have also resettled in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark.

Ms. Otero's visit boosted the morale of the refugees and IOM staff who work with them. As Mr. Sinkovits said, "The interest and support of such a high-ranking US official in these refugees who have been given the opportunity of a new life is encouraging for so many.  These are people who have suffered the trials of displacement and for over 20 years lived a temporary existence in a camp while they patiently awaited acceptance and relocation to a permanent and welcoming home."

For more information please contact  

Thomas Sinkovits
IOM Nepal
Email: tsinkovits@iom.int