Record 90,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled in third countries

The number of Nepal-based Bhutanese refugees having resettled in third countries like the US and UK today reached a record 90,000.
The refugees resettlement programme was initiated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IoM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the resettlement of 90,000 refugees is a major landmark in third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees.
The resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees began in 2007.
So far, over 5,800 refugees from Bhutan have been resettled in Canada.
Other countries where Bhutanese refugees were resettled are Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the UK and the US.

The majority of resettled refugees - over 75,000 - have been taken in by the US, according to UNHCR Nepal office.

"This is another important step towards resolving one of the most protracted refugee situations in Asia," said a statement quoting Chairperson of the Core Group of eight resettlement countries and British Ambassador to Nepal Andy Sparkes.
"This has been possible due to the strong support of the Government of Nepal and the excellent cooperation between the resettlement countries, UNHCR and IOM," it said.
"The courage and resilience of the refugees has been a great motivation for us to continue our engagement with this refugee population," the statement said.

According to IoM, of the 27,000 refugees remaining in the camps, about 21,000 have already expressed interests in resettlement and are expected to depart in the coming years.
More than one lakh Nepali speaking Bhutanese refugees have been taking refuge in the eastern Nepal camps since early 1990 as a result of ethnic cleansing policy adopted by Bhutan's Druk government.