The Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Festus Logan, has disclosed a plan by the government of Liberia and the UNHCR to integrate into Liberian society 5,000 Ivorian refugees residing in Bahn, Nimba County.
Addressing the Ministry of Information weekly press briefing in Monrovia Thursday, Director Logan stated that his entity has developed, validated and endorsed a five years “Comprehensive Local Integration Strategy Document ” for onward submission to the Office of the President.
He indicated that the government of Liberia in partnership with UNHCR has begun the construction of durable shelters for the 5,000 refugees who have expressed the desire to be integrated into the Liberian society.
At the same time, the LRRRC Executive Director revealed that the entity has received 10 asylum applications from Syria, Cameroun, Turkey, Sudan and Eritrea, of which eight were granted refugee status, while one was denied and the other tabled.
Logan further disclosed that the LRRRC in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)has assisted a total number of 1,059 stranded Liberian Migrants out of the 11, 778 that was inherited by his entity.
He cited that the LRRRC is currently developing a document geared towards finding durable solutions and the reintegration of the returnees into the mainstream society.
Logan assured Liberians that his entity is working closely with the UNHCR, IOM and other reputable partners for the repatriation and resettlement of the remaining caseload of Liberian migrants.
Also, the LRRRC official asserted that his entity has identified 600 concentrated centers where National Internally Displaced People with Special Needs are and have also profiled 25,000 of them.
He stressed that the initiative is intended to provide opportunities for the disadvantaged young men and women which will subsequently enable them contribute to the growth and development of the country.
TSS/abj/APA