UNHCR unaware of 45,000 seeking repatriation

UNHCR Kigoma on Wednesday said it was not aware that some 45,000 Burundi refugees had reportedly registered for repatriation. An official in Kigoma, Marion Roche, told IRIN that a few weeks ago, some refugees approached UNHCR officers in Karago camp saying that 80 of them wanted to be repatriated. "The number later increased to 400," she noted. "Our officers in Kibondo asked the refugees to go and make a list of all those who wanted to be repatriated but by last Friday, there was still no list presented." "UNHCR will always repatriate refugees who show interest in going back to their original homes if it is sure the conditions in those countries are favourable for such an exercise," she added. The private Burundi news agency Net Press on Tuesday reported that more than 45,000 Burundi refugees had registered for repatriation.