UNHCR Country Profile: Bhutanese Refugees

The influx of Bhutanese refugees into Nepal began in late 1991 and peaked in 1992. Since 1997, there have been few new arrivals. Currently, some 96,000 persons are accommodated and assisted in seven refugee camps in eastern

Nepal. UNHCR started providing assistance in late 1991, at the request of His Majesty's Government of Nepal.

While alleging that they were deprived of their nationality and forced to leave their home country, the Bhutanese refugees continue to express their wish to return to Bhutan. In pursuit of a solution to this refugee problem, the governments

of Bhutan and Nepal have had a series of bilateral talks. At the outset, the two governments agreed to categorise the camp residents into four groups: 1) bona fide Bhutanese who may have been forcefully evicted; 2) Bhutanese who

emigrated; 3) non-Bhutanese; and 4) Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts.

Following the agreement to categorise the refugees into different groups, the two governments were to begin a joint verification of the refugees in order to determine who could return to Bhutan. However, this joint verification has not taken

place. The Bhutanese authorities have cited the frequent changes in government in Nepal as an impediment in this regard. The Nepalese authorities refute this suggestion and claim that there is a consensus among political parties in

Nepal on this question, and they accuse the Bhutanese of bad faith in the bilateral discussion process. UNHCR has repeatedly urged both governments to address the refugee problem expeditiously, and has offered to assist in the

implementation of an agreement on repatriation.

The governments of Bhutan and Nepal have recently agreed to resume Ministerial level talks in Kathmandu in September 1999. The talks are intended to establish procedures for a joint verification of the refugee caseload. UNHCR is

closely following the bilateral discussions and continues to urge that an early humanitarian solution to this problem be found.

September 1999

Download the full report here: UNHCR Country Profile: Bhutanese Refugees