Liberians urged to treat refugees with care

The acting Resident Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR, Madam Ioli Kimyaci, is urging all Liberians to stay informed and stop discrimination against refugees and welcome them in their hearts. Madan Kimyaci said anyone can be a refugee, admonishing Liberians not look down on refugee, but treat them like mothers, fathers and children. 

She also disclosed that an estimated 40, 000 refugees- mostly Ivoirians, were currently residing in Liberia, noting that 77- percent of them were in three camps in Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland Counties, while 23- percent were being harbored in communities, including the Liberian capital Monrovia.

Madam Kimyaci made the disclosure last weekend at a news conference in Monrovia, as Liberia joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Refugee Day on June 20.

She indicated that the UNHCR and Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission or LRRRC, with the support of partners and other United Nations agencies continue to provide shelter, non-food items, camp coordination and management, livelihood opportunities, education and healthcare for the refugees.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the LRRRC, Abla Williams has said that it was critical for the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to fund agriculture projects and programs, especially livelihood programs geared towards sustaining refugees.

Director Williams pointed out that the Government of Liberia, with its meager resources, will continuously collaborate with the relevant humanitarian actors in providing protection and assistance for refugees and other vulnerable people.