Bhutanese refugees living in different camps in Jhapa and Morang have been working out of the camps, cheating the UN refugee coordination unit.

Many refugees have been working as labourers on the Leuti River, collecting boulders and sand. Seven refugee families of Pathari camp in Morang have been residing in Ghante of Bhedetar-2, building huts. Balaram Gurung, a refugee, lamented that he had to leave the camp to work as labourer as the foodstuff the UN body doled out was not enough to sustain his family. Another refugee JB Rai said he had a problem as the UN body gave three alternatives to the refugees — stay in Nepal, return to Bhutan or choose third country settlement.

Gurung from Pathari camp said about 15 to 20 refugees have been collecting sand and boulders from the river, 11 km south of the district headquarters Dhankuta.

Local Parshu Gurung said local labourers are having hard time as refugees work for lower wages.

A high-level official said the law prohibits refugees from going out of the camp for work . Omkar Neupane, Dhankuta assistant CDO, said refugees have cheated the UN refugee coordination unit.

Published on: 30 September 2011 | The Himalayan Times