Sixty Republic of Congo refugees arrived in Point-Noire on Friday at the start of a repatriation programme for some 15,000 of them in neighbouring Gabon, city officials reported in a communiqué.
The Prefecture of Kouilou in Point-Noire, the highest civil authority in the city and its surroundings, reported that the first 60 refugees were flown into the city because roads were impassable.
However, it said that other refugees would be bused home during the dry season from July to October. They will make the 700 km journey from Tchimanga, in the Haut-Ogooue area of southeast Gabon, to Point-Noire, from where they will be taken to their villages.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it would provide each returning refugee with 50,000 francs CFA (US $91.50). The agency, ROC, and Gabon are due to meet on Monday to organise the repatriation by the least expensive method.
Thousands of Congolese fled their country during the 1997-2001 civil war.
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