Loading ...Why is it important to support programs for Liberian refugees in Ghana?
SHIFSD’s efforts do not exist in a vacuum, and must be examined against the backdrop of current regional developments. These circumstances greatly impact Liberian refugees - SHIFSD’s core constituency - and SHIFSD must carve a relevant role for itself in relation to these forces of change.
Much attention has recently been given to reconstruction efforts in Liberia. Beginning in 2004, the UNHCR launched a rigorous effort to promote the voluntary repatriation of the approximately 250,000 Liberian refugees scattered across the region. However, only 70,000 refugees have returned to Liberia under the Voluntary Repatriation Scheme. In an effort to understand the factors preventing refugees from returning home, the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) conducted two focus group discussions in March 2006 at Buduburam Refugee Settlement, home to more than 40,000 Liberian refugees.
The participants in the focus group raised a number of concerns regarding repatriation. The UNHCR claims unequivocally that Liberia is safe and that employment opportunities abound. However, 85% of the Liberian population is unemployed, and that number is growing. Figures indicate that levels of extreme poverty and hunger continue to rise.
Security and infrastructure are also major concerns among a population that escaped from more than 15 years of brutal fighting. Refugees have received word of violent incidents and looming tension around the country. There also exist doubts regarding the inability of Liberian infrastructure to absorb returning refugees, particularly as it pertains to education, safe drinking water and health care.
While life as a refugee on Buduburam is rife with poverty and hardships, many of the residents have lived here since the early 1990s. Some hardly remember Liberia, others were born here and many have no relatives or homes to return to. They have invested in schools, churches and small businesses, and there is access to health care, albeit inadequate. The repatriation scheme does not include compensation for those investments.
While refugees are aware that UNHCR has indicated that it will step up its gradual withdrawal of services in June 2007, the Buduburam community is here to stay, certainly for the foreseeable future. Many refugees have indicated their intention to stay in Ghana and others have too many reservations to do so under the current repatriation scheme.
To that end, SHIFSD firmly believes in strengthening the refugees in Buduburam to increase self-sufficiency among those who will continue to live in Ghana and those who wish to return but feel ill-equipped to do so. According to the FOSDA study, âthe bad experiences of the war make it almost impossible for some of [the refugees] to contemplate returning home without training, a place to lay their heads, financial resources and other necessities. Providing education and training will result in a community of individuals that can be integrated into whichever society they choose to call home. More poignantly, they can return to Liberia able to offer a hand in reconstruction efforts, instead of exacerbating a population of idle, impoverished and unemployed citizens. SHIFSD designs its programs to benefit not only the individuals in question, but also the future and stability of Liberia and the entire region.
