The European Union (EU) has contributed 2 million euros to the UN refugee agency for providing protection and sustainable solutions for Bhutanese refugees living in eastern Nepal.
The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it will use the funds equivalent to NRs 231 million over the next three years (2016-2018) to resettle Bhutanese refugees in third world countries and to care for those who opt to remain in Nepal.
The latter support will include physical and legal protection as well as services including shelter, education, health, sanitation, access to sustainable energy and support in addressing psycho-social and other specific needs, according to a press release issued by the EU Office here.
"The European Union is more than delighted to make this contribution that will go into meeting basic needs of the 17,000 Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal," EU Ambassador to Nepal Rensje Teerink said.
"I hope that the assistance will enable a congenial living environment for the refugees who have been receiving support from the EU for many years now," he said.
The EU has been continuously supporting UNHCR's activities for the refugees from Bhutan since 1994.
More than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have begun new lives in eight different countries, mainly the US, since the launch of the resettlement programme in late 2007.
Nepal currently hosts over 17,000 Bhutanese refugees in two camps.
It is estimated that around 10-12,000 refugees will remain in these camps as the resettlement operation concludes in the near future.
