Bhutanese community leaders participating in a four day Consultative and Refugee Congress conference organized by the Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in partnership with the UNHCR, US from August 1-4 in Washington DC, have highlighted various issues concerning resettlement.
A report received late says that more than 20 Bhutanese community leaders representing all the ethnic refugees from various states participated in the ORR conference where 1000 plus people participated from various sectors- policy makers, state department reps, senators and congressmen, resettlement agencies’ directors/case workers.
Tika Acharya from New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Service- Office of Minority Health and Refugee Affairs stressed on the need of customized post resettlement program and requested ORR to arrange services on vocational training, higher education, recognition of credentials and experiences of refugee professionals.
Hari Niroula from Seattle, Washington spoke on the need of driving education to all newly arrived refugees in their native languages.
Kumar Gurung from LIRS, Omha, Nebraska spoke on the insufficient Refugee Cash Assistance program and requested ORR to provide minimum required cash assistance on case-to-case basis until refugee become economically self-sufficient.
Ghana Dulal from Utha spoke on the need of early citizenship classes and exceptions criteria on citizenship interview to those who are disable and elderly.
Chabi Neopaney from South Dakota stressed on the need of services relating to refugee’s rich culture, heritage and belief and asked for possible support from funders to make an arrangement of such services in the resettlement site to keep refugees socially and emotionally healthy.
Meanwhile, Damainty Kathet from Arizona focused on need of compressive English as Second Language learning program to be designed and delivered in culturally effective manner.
Dhan Khatiwada from Michigan presented a video highlighting the expectations of refugees in US.
Further, Khem Khadka from North Carolina, Tek Darnal from Chicago joined the above group for two days long UNHCR Refugee Congress held during August 3-4. At least 60 Refugee leaders from all 50 States participated in this congress and took part to prepare UNHCR proclamations for 2011-2012, which included formation of Refugee Advisory Council of US.
At least one refugee will be selected from each state every year to attend the congress of Council in US. The idea behind this council is to listen to the voices of refugee from all states in decision-making process annually.
Delegates were also given an opportunity to meet personally with their respective states senators and congressmen to discuss about the effective resettlement process in the states.
Meantime, those Bhutanese participating in the Congress also had an opportunity to meet with the Head of the UNHCR, US and discussed the issues of delayed application process in the UNHCR and International Organisation for Migration.
