By Our Staff Writer
One hundred and twenty three Ivorian refugees have been voluntarily repatriated from Liberia over the past two months, says the UNHCR office in Monrovia.
According to its latest Fact Sheets covering the two months, the 123 constitute in total, 49 families from the PTP Camp and host communities in Grand Gedeh County. Sixty-six lef in February and 57 in March 2019.
The total number of persons of concern currently in Liberia, according to the refugee agency, stands at 9,087, with refugees from Ivory Coast alone accounting for 8, 977 of the number, various nationality refugees 77 and asylum seekers 33.
In a related development, a clinic at Little Wlebo – a camp for Ivorian refugees has been placed under the Health Ministry’s Management Information Server.
But the UNHCR recently reported that the release of former President Laurent Gbagbo, arrested by French and UN backed forces during the violence and held in The Hague, after losing the presidency, appears to be the latest factor impacting voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees.
“While several have expressed joy about the release of Gbago, others cite insecurity as the reason not to return home”, the refugee agency said.
The ex-president, along with aide Charles Ble Goude was ordered released by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in early February, after serving seven years in pre-trial detention.
But part of the conditions for his release includes returning to court for a possible prosecution appeal against the acquittal.