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UN agency has no access to target a

Subject: UN agency has no access to target area

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Repatriation plan hits snag for lack of clear destination
UN agency has no access to target area


Post Reporters=20


The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees yesterday said it =
could not repatriate Karen refugees as it had no access to areas in =
Burma to which they would likely return.

"Access to returnees is a major criterion for voluntary repatriation, as =
is a second factor of safety, and with no access, at least not at =
present, UNHCR cannot determine whether current conditions meet =
acceptable standards of safety," it said. The UNHCR was responding to a =
report that some 10,000 Karen in Mae Hong Son were seeking UNHCR help to =
repatriate.

"Our staff in that province are looking into the situation at Kong Kha =
and Tha Sala camps but issues more fundamental than the movement back =
across the border are involved," it said.

"They include lack of UNHCR presence in areas of Burma to which the =
refugees would likely return," it added.

Kachadpai Burusphat, secretary-general of the National Security Council, =
earlier said more than 10,000 Karen refugees at the two camps had asked =
UNHCR staff who visited them two months ago to push for their =
repatriation. But the UNHCR officials had told them to wait.

In yesterday's statement, the UNHCR said if refugees wishing to return =
submitted signed forms stating their willingness to do so, this would =
fulfil the criterion of voluntariness.

But the two other criteria, of access and safety, "would also have to be =
met for UNHCR to become involved".


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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>
<H1 align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D+4>Repatriation plan hits snag for lack of =
clear=20
destination</FONT></H1><!--KICKER--><FONT size=3D+2><I>UN agency has no =
access to=20
target area</I></FONT><BR><BR>
<P><FONT color=3D#000000><!--BYLINE--><B><FONT size=3D3>Post Reporters=20
</FONT></B><BR>
<P><FONT size=3D+2><B>T</B></FONT>he United Nations High Commissioner =
for Refugees=20
yesterday said it could not repatriate Karen refugees as it had no =
access to=20
areas in Burma to which they would likely return.</P>
<P>"Access to returnees is a major criterion for voluntary repatriation, =
as is a=20
second factor of safety, and with no access, at least not at present, =
UNHCR=20
cannot determine whether current conditions meet acceptable standards of =

safety," it said. The UNHCR was responding to a report that some 10,000 =
Karen in=20
Mae Hong Son were seeking UNHCR help to repatriate.</P>
<P>"Our staff in that province are looking into the situation at Kong =
Kha and=20
Tha Sala camps but issues more fundamental than the movement back across =
the=20
border are involved," it said.</P>
<P>"They include lack of UNHCR presence in areas of Burma to which the =
refugees=20
would likely return," it added.</P>
<P>Kachadpai Burusphat, secretary-general of the National Security =
Council,=20
earlier said more than 10,000 Karen refugees at the two camps had asked =
UNHCR=20
staff who visited them two months ago to push for their repatriation. =
But the=20
UNHCR officials had told them to wait.</P>
<P>In yesterday's statement, the UNHCR said if refugees wishing to =
return=20
submitted signed forms stating their willingness to do so, this would =
fulfil the=20
criterion of voluntariness.</P>
<P>But the two other criteria, of access and safety, "would also have to =
be met=20
for UNHCR to become involved".</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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