SIERRA LEONE PASSES NEW REFUGEE ACT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000330 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE PASSES NEW REFUGEE ACT SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On May 16, PolOff met with representatives from UNHCR to discuss Parliament's recent passage of a new Refugee Act and to receive an update on the current status of Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone. On May 3, Parliament passed a new Refugee Act that creates a legal framework for the GoSL to assume responsibility for determining the legal status of individuals applying for asylum in Sierra Leone. UNHCR officials said as of May 8, there were 20,814 Liberians in eight camps located in the south western part of the country in Bo and Kenema districts. There is an additional urban refugee caseload consisting of some 5,000 refugees in the towns of Freetown, Bo, and Kenema. Three options currently exist to address the refugee situation in Sierra Leone: 1) repatriation to the country of origin; 2) local integration; and 3) resettlement to a third country. However, with the recent return of stability in Liberia, repatriation remains the key durable solution for the current caseload. UNHCR will provide assistance to increase absorption capacity in refugee hosting areas in Sierra Leone. END SUMMARY. PARLIAMENT PASSES REFUGEE LAW -------------- ¶2. (U) On May 3, Parliament passed the Refugees Protection Act. UNHCR has worked with the GoSL since 2002 to enact a national refugee law and was instrumental in ensuring passage of the legislation. UNHCR officials pointed out the new law provides a legal framework that will enable the GoSL to assume responsibility for determining the legal status of individuals applying for asylum, a role which the UNHCR had played in the past. The new law also calls for the establishment of a national refugee authority, implementing agency, and appellate authority. UNHCR officials noted the GoSL will need additional assistance to create these institutions and train personnel to staff them. THOSE WHO DECIDED TO RETURN TO LIBERIA -------------- ¶3. (U) UNHCR records show that, since October 2004, 21,495 refugees spontaneously returned to Liberia while UNHCR assisted another 23,378 refugees to return. The bulk of the population (69 percent) has returned to Lofa county, followed by Grand Cape Mount (19 percent) and the remaining 12 percent to other counties, including Gbapolu and, Monteserado, and the rest of the counties. 
¶4. (U) In the past, returning refugees have typically traveled between the November to April dry season, as the May to October rainy season, coupled with poor road conditions, have hampered voluntary repatriation. Remaining refugees cite four main reasons for not opting for voluntary repatriation: 1) lack of adequate schools and free education in Liberia; 2) lack of adequate medical facilities in the counties of return; 3) sporadic cases of insecurity in the counties of return with no tangible police presence to protect returnees; and 4) unavailability of legal mechanisms to address matters relating to restitution of property. ¶5. (U) Mass voluntary repatriation to Liberia is scheduled to end June 30, 2007, when assistance in Sierra Leone will be phased out. Food assistance will end (although assistance will continue to vulnerable individuals) and education assistance will gradually cease. Health provisions will remain in place until the end of December 2007. AND THOSE WHO DECIDED TO STAY IN SIERRA LEONE -------------- ¶6. (U) Using data compiled from an intentions survey of 4,830 refugees conducted in early 2007, UNHCR estimates that between 11,000 - 12,000 Liberian refugees may seek to integrate locally in Sierra Leone, although that figure could be much higher. According to UNHCR officials, GoSL officials are amenable to local integration, and UNHCR has held discussions with GoSL officials in refugee hosting areas. UNHCR noted some 3,500 Sierra Leonean refugees will be locally integrated into Liberia. ¶7. (U) UNHCR plans in the last half of 2007 and during the year 2008 to support the GoSL to increase the absorption capacity in the refugee hosting areas through community support programs. Specific support will include efforts to: 1) assistance to key line ministries at district levels in the water, sanitation, education and health sectors; 2) increase refugees' self-reliance by promoting income generation self-reliance projects in agriculture; 3) provide FREETOWN 00000330 002 OF 002 support to expand current school facilities; 4) provide skills training; and 5) rehabilitate refugee camp areas. RESETTLEMENT -------------- ¶8. (U) Liberian refugees have been resettled mainly in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Between 2005-2006, UNHCR resettled nearly 1,400 Liberians in the United States. It expects to resettle another 250 in the U.S. over the next two years. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Although the UNHCR program is scheduled to run through 2009, there is cause for concern whether the GoSL possesses sufficient capacity to establish the structures set forth by the new law to integrate refugees following the June 30 deadline. Significant assistance from UNHCR will be necessary to increase the country's absorption capacity and overcome the challenges brought about by continuing fiscal woes and poorly-trained, ill-paid and unmotivated public servants. Implementation of this new law will likely be similar to the struggles the GoSL has encountered in executing programs to combat trafficking in persons following the 2005 passage of the Anti-Trafficking law in 2005. However, the GoSL should be commended for passing this needed legislation. END COMMENT. HULL