The European Union has contributed 2 million Euro (approx Rs231 million) for protection of and sustainable solutions for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal through UN’s refugee agency, the UNHCR.

According to the UNHCR, the funds will be used over the next three years to resettle Bhutanese refugees to third countries and to care for those who opt to remain in Nepal. The latter support will include physical and legal protection as well as services including shelter, education, health, sanitation, access to sustainable energy and support in addressing psychosocial and other specific needs, the UNHCR said.

“The European Union is more than delighted to make this contribution that will go into meeting the basic needs of the 17,000 Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal,” said EU Ambassador to Nepal Rensje Teerink. “I hope

that the assistance will enable a congenial living environment for the refugees who have been receiving the support from the EU for many years now.”

UNHCR Representative in Nepal Craig Sanders said that the donation has arrived in time to fill funding gaps

and believed that this would boost efforts to find durable solutions for Bhutanese

refugees living in Beldangi and Sanischare camps in

eastern Nepal.

More than 101,000 Bhutanese refugees have

been resettled in eight countries since the launch of the resettlement programme in late 2007.

Nepal currently hosts over 17,000 Bhutanese refugees in the two camps. It is estimated that around 12,000 refugees will remain in these camps when the resettlement operation concludes.