IDP conference invitation against laws to protect refugees

23/03/2012 20:23

Leader of Kunonoko camp for Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad Isa El Tijani said the Darfur Regional Authority’s invitation to the conference to discuss voluntary repatriation to Sudan is against international law, which protects refugees. ‘International law does not allow for refugees to return to the countries from which they fled, especially as attending the conference is making them fear for their lives’, said El Tijani to Radio Dabanga. ‘Return must have specified conditions and be under the supervision of the UN, not in the same conditions that made them flee Sudan in the first place, they need real guarantees of security.’ ‘The time for conferences is over, refugee representatives already said everything to Tijani Sissi during the Doha process, and we now we need actual implementation on the ground’, added the camp leader.

Leader of Kunonoko camp for Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad Isa El Tijani said the Darfur Regional Authority’s invitation to the conference to discuss voluntary repatriation to Sudan is against international law, which protects refugees.

‘International law does not allow for refugees to return to the countries from which they fled, especially as attending the conference is making them fear for their lives’, said El Tijani to Radio Dabanga.

‘Return must have specified conditions and be under the supervision of the UN, not in the same conditions that made them flee Sudan in the first place, they need real guarantees of security.’

‘The time for conferences is over, refugee representatives already said everything to Tijani Sissi during the Doha process, and we now we need actual implementation on the ground’, added the camp leader.