UNHCR, IOM condemn attack on refugees

The International Organisation for Migration and the UNHCR have condemned the attack on the IOM bus Monday evening by some masked men near the Khudunabari refugee camp in eastern Nepal, which left the IOM driver and two Bhutanese refugees injured.

"We are shocked by this incident and call for the apprehension of those responsible so that they can be brought to justice," said Daisy Dell, UNHCR Representative in Nepal.

Similarly, David Derthick, IOM Chief of Mission in Nepal, said "We would like to express our sorrow for those injured and wish them a speedy recovery,"

Initial reports indicated that on Monday evening at around 16:50 hrs, an IOM bus carrying 15 refugees from the Khudunabari refugee camp in Jhapa district was attacked by nine masked men with heavy stones and sticks. The bus was on its way to the Khudunabari refugee camp to drop off the refugees who had been to the IOM office in Damak for third country resettlement processing.

The injured refugees are receiving treatment in the Khudunabari camp health clinic. nepalnews.com ag May 06 08