UNHCR BEGINS REPATRIATION FRIDAY -
For Liberians in Ghana, Sierra Leone
September 30, 2004

First batch of Liberian refugees residing in Ghana and Sierra Leone as of October 1st, 2004 will be repatriated by the Uniterd Nations High Commission of Refugees.

Addressing a news conference Tuiesday, UNHCR Deputy Director for African Bureau, Ms. Zobida Hassim-Ashagrie said a lot have been achieved in Liberia, in terms of security and as such, UNHCR is starting the facilitated face of the repatriation exercise for Liberian refugees in the sub-region.

She said about 78 Liberians are expected to come by road from Sierra Leone through the border town of Bo Waterside, while 160 of them will come by air from Ghana through the Rober International Airport on Friday, October 1, 2004. According to her fifty thousand (50,000) Liberian refugees who have voluntarily returned have been registered and would be catered to briefly and reintegrated into society. About 350,000 Liberian refugees are expected to be repatriated.