The East African (Nairobi)
29 Juin 2009
In a section of the Mtabila refugee camp on the vast and lonely western frontier of Tanzania, Burundians have been ordered to pull down their huts and sign up for "voluntary" UN convoys to the border.
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This practice of force repatriation by the UNHCR and east african countries is alarming. While it can be argued that there is relative security in Burundi, some refugees have legitimate fear of returning. First,security is not guaranteed according to most reliable reports. Forcing people into a county where their safety is not certain sounds like a violation of their human right. The UNHCR and east african countries should work out ways to completely absorbe people who are unable or unwilling to return to their countries of origin. Why bother with regional integration if countries remain so jigoistic in their relation to citizens of other nations?