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UNHCR calls for Sri Lanka to renew ferry service to India to aid Tamil refugee resettlement

The United Nations Refugee Agency called on Sri Lanka to resume ferry services between India and Sri Lanka to help Tamil refugees in India return to the North-East of Sri Lanka.

A representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Golam Abbas, commenting on the need for Tamil refugees in India to return to their lands in Sri Lanka, said,

“We look forward to the resumption of the ferry service between India and Sri Lanka that would be of enormous support to those who wish to return.”

The statement comes as 40 refugees left for Sri Lanka from Chennai with the help of the UNHCR on Wednesday, reports the Economic Times.

There are an estimated 100,000 Tamil refugees who fled the North-East of Sri Lanka to seek asylum in India.

See also:

Tamil refugees arrested in Tamil Nadu  (08 Apr 2015)

2,000 children from Sri Lankan refugees born in Indian camps  (01 Apr 2015)

India assures assistance to Tamil refugees  (24 Mar 2015)

Working with Sri Lanka to repatriate Tamil refugees – India (09 Mar 2015)

Tamil refugees should stay in India - JHU  (27 Feb 2015)

Will only discuss repatriation of Tamil refugees if resettlement, militarisation issues resolved – Tamil Nadu  (18 Feb 2015)

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