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Thousands want to return home

Some 2,000 of the 7,000 registered Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone had told the UNHCR they wanted to return home by the end of July 1999. However, voluntary repatriation was suspended for over six months in the wake of the rebel invasion of Freetown in January. The effort restarted on 4 September when 121 Liberians arrived by boat in Monrovia. So far, at least 330,000 Liberian refugees of an estimated 480,000 have returned home either with UNHCR's help or on their own. The UNHCR continues to assist Liberian refugees who wish to return home.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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