National
Refugees appeal for increased allowance
Refugees living in the country have urged the Kathmandu-based Office of the UNHCR to increase their existing monthly allowance of Rs 5,750 to Rs 10,000.Submitting an appeal to the office on Friday, the refugees united under the banner of Organization for Refugee Rights said they were shocked to hear that 25 percent of the amount will be deducted from March 2015 despite the fact that the current allowance is not adequate to live with dignity in the country.
“We are worried how the UNHCR could take such action against us,” they said, adding that the allowance has not been increased since 2011 and they are facing difficulties living with dignity. “Today, as refugees, we are not under the care of any state. We are under the care of UNHCR. Does this mean we are not entitled to these rights?” they said, urging the UNHCR to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“The UNHCR appears to be indirectly encouraging us to get illegal jobs,” they said, demanding that they be allowed to get legal jobs in Nepal. They also urged the UN body to help them resettle permanently within three years of granting refugee status in a country which ensures basic human rights and security.
The UNHCR office, meanwhile, said the cut was proposed to allocate the amount for Syrian people. Nepal hosts refugees from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Tibet, Bhutan, Congo, Kenya, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Egypt.