LRRRC Unties Refugees’ Plight

-While Remains On Course; Stranded Migrants & Refugees Settled

By Esau J. Farr

The Liberia Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration Commission (LRRRC) has disclosed a beaming new day and flourishing lives for stranded Liberian migrants and refugees in Liberia.

The disclosure was made by the Executive Director of the LRRRC, Rev. Festus Logan recently when he appeared at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).

He informed reporters at MICAT that discussion for 11,261 refugees started in 2018 for long term solution for 1,223 families constituting 5,000 Ivoirians opting to stay in Liberia; a process that is still being finalized or concluded.

According to the LRRRC boss, Liberia’s 1^st comprehensive five years roadmap for Local Integration Strategy Document (2018-2022) for caseload was developed, validated and endorsed by the Board of Commissioners of the LRRRC and that plans are under way for submission to President George Weah.

He further informed reporters about modern structures being built and implemented by partners to benefit both refugees and host communities while same is being done in Grand Kru County.

Rev. Logan also reminded journalists about the 300 former Sierra Leonean refugees who were reintegrated into the Liberian society.

“Liberia has been rated as one of the best and safe places for refugees in the world,” he said.

The LRRRC being the humanitarian arm of the Government of Liberia, it has been able to help stranded migrants (11,777) to be reunited with their families in Liberia.

He disclosed that at least 1,059 of them have returned through the help of the Government of Liberia, through LRRRC and UNHCR.

Rev. Logan informed reporters about steps taken to reintegrate those he referred to as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with special needs otherwise referred to as ‘Zogoes’ in Liberia.

According to him, a mapping exercise aimed identifying ghettoes and ‘Zogoes’ in Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties was launched in 2018.

The LRRRC boss disclosed that after the exercise, his team realized the existence of 600 ghettoes and at least 25,000 ‘Zogoes’.

The finding data is expected to be launched on June 15, 2019.

Additionally, “The February 13, 2019 mandate of the President through the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs was given to the LRRRC to work with the LMDI finding lasting solution in the Fendall land disputes,” Rev. told MICAT assigned reporters.

He furthered that the special technical committee of that group to remedy the situation was successful in meeting the concerned and needed partners connected to the conflicts and that findings are expected to be given to the President of Liberia.

“Those met during the exercise include the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), the Ministry of Public Works; University of Liberia, victims of the Fendall demolition and Montserrado Superintendent amongst other major stakeholders. TNR