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Liberian refugees return from Guinea
Neighbor children of Mariam Kromah help carry the family's belongings to UNHCR trucks.
Mariam Kromah, 60, is returning members of her splintered family to Liberia from Guinea to where they fled as refugees during Liberia's civil war. Mariam had been in Guinea since 1990, and was joined later by her grandchildren, sent by their parents, during fighting in Monrovia in 2003.
The UNHCR is trying to reduce the three camps of Liberian refugees in Guinea to one, urging Liberians to return voluntarily. Many are reluctant and plan to stay in Guinea either because they still fear for their lives in Liberia or because they have lived in Guinea ten years or more and have stronger ties there.
Due to aid shortages, food rations to the camp were reduced in 2005 from 2100 k/cal per person per day to 1600 k/cal per day, and will stop entirely in most cases in December 2006. Since 2005 the care and maintenance budget for the camp, hosting about 4800 refugees, has been cut, reducing education, health care and shelter.
Kromah will take the children to a small town called Jarmulor, in Lofa County, until the dry season when she will travel to Monrovia to tell their parents to come get them.
Liberian refugees return from Guinea
Neighbor children of Mariam Kromah help carry the family's belongings to UNHCR trucks.
Mariam Kromah, 60, is returning members of her splintered family to Liberia from Guinea to where they fled as refugees during Liberia's civil war. Mariam had been in Guinea since 1990, and was joined later by her grandchildren, sent by their parents, during fighting in Monrovia in 2003.
The UNHCR is trying to reduce the three camps of Liberian refugees in Guinea to one, urging Liberians to return voluntarily. Many are reluctant and plan to stay in Guinea either because they still fear for their lives in Liberia or because they have lived in Guinea ten years or more and have stronger ties there.
Due to aid shortages, food rations to the camp were reduced in 2005 from 2100 k/cal per person per day to 1600 k/cal per day, and will stop entirely in most cases in December 2006. Since 2005 the care and maintenance budget for the camp, hosting about 4800 refugees, has been cut, reducing education, health care and shelter.
Kromah will take the children to a small town called Jarmulor, in Lofa County, until the dry season when she will travel to Monrovia to tell their parents to come get them.