01/11/2004

Bolton offers protection for refugees from war-torn West Africa

The second group of refugees from war-torn West Africa to be offered protection in the UK through a UN resettlement programme will arrive in Bolton today, the Home Office has said.

The Liberian and Congolese refugees have been given sanctuary in the UK under the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Gateway protection programme, an international refugee resettlement programme.

A total of 81 refugees will be settled in Bolton, following the successful arrival of an earlier group in Sheffield. The arrival in Bolton of the first 34 refugees today will be followed by the rest of the group over the coming weeks and months.

Home Office Minister, Des Browne, said: "The people arriving in Bolton today are part of a small quota of refugees to whom we have we have offered sanctuary. These people have been assessed by the UNHCR as being exceptionally vulnerable, at risk and in need of permanent resettlement. They have suffered horrific abuse not only in their country of origin but often in their country of refuge and have been living in unstable, squalid conditions.

"It is a credit to the people of Bolton that they are willing to provide a safe haven to these refugees. I am sure that they will give them a warm welcome and support them as they settle in so that they can fully participate and play an active role in our society."

The refugees include families with young children who fled Liberia during the civil war of the early 1990s and have since been living in refugee camps in Sierra Leone. The group also includes families who fled the continuing fighting in Eastern Congo and had been living in refugee camps in Uganda. Many of them have endured further attacks in their country of refuge. Most of the women are survivors of rape and torture while others have witnessed the murder of family members.

The Home Office will meet the full costs of resettlement in the first year.

(gmcg/sp)

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