JHAPA: Non-political organisations based in Jhapa district have initiated campaigns to pave the way for the repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees back home.

As a part of the campaign, these organisations namely Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan (HUROB), Bhutanese Refugees Repatriation Council (BRRC) and Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF) have started filling out forms for repatriation of the refugees at all the seven Bhutanese refugee camps in different parts of Jhapa and Morang districts. The form, scripted in both English and Nepali, features details of the refugees, such as address in Bhutan, citizenship, land and property ownership and family information.

Once filled out, these forms would be sent to the concerned bodies, the HUROB president SB Subba said. The organisers believe the campaign will help draw international attention to the Bhutanese refugees’ situation and build up pressure on the Druk government for their repatriation.

The repatriation campaign will continue for two months. According to the International Organisation on Migration (IOM), more than 15,000 Bhutanese refugees so far have been resettled in seven different countries including the US, Australia and Netherlands, among others.