Military

DATE=12/23/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= UNHCR / ERITREA REFUGEES

NUMBER=2-297720

BYLINE= LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE= GENEVA

CONTENT=

INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency is urging hundreds of thousands of Eritrean refugees in Sudan to register with the agency for voluntary repatriation by the end of the year, when their refugee status comes to an end. Lisa Schlein reports from U-N-H-C-R headquarters in Geneva.

TEXT: The U-N Refugee agency says December 31st is the cut-off date for some 300-thousand Eritrean refugees in Sudan to register for voluntary repatriation. To date, the refugee agency has transported only about 50-thousand refugees back to Eritrea.

In May, the U-N-H-C-R announced all Eritreans who fled the war of independence 30 years ago, or the recent border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, would lose their refugee status at the end of the year. The agency says the conditions that forced them to flee their country no longer exist.

December 31st is also the deadline for those Eritrean refugees who fear going home to put in a claim for asylum.

U-N-H-C-R Spokeswoman Millicent Mutuli says Eritreans who want to apply for asylum can have their claims screened in centers which have been set up in at least five cities across Sudan.

///MUTULI ACT///

Not all 300-thousand are bound by this decision to return. If they feel that they continue to be at risk in Eritrea, then their claims will be listened to, adjudicated and a decision will be made whether or not they should get further international protection.

///END ACT///

Ms. Mutuli says about 50-thousand Eritreans have so far requested continued asylum. Although December 31st is the cut-off date for voluntary repatriation, Ms. Mutuli says the Sudanese authorities are willing to give the agency as much time as it needs to assist the refugees in getting home.

///2ND MUTULI ACT///

We will help everyone who wants to go back until we complete that operation. We will also continue to assist those who are waiting for their applications for continued asylum. Until that decision is made, we will continue to help them. Those who do not wish to return for non-asylum reasons would have to legalize their stay in Sudan.

///END ACT///

The U-N-H-C-R Spokeswoman notes many people who do not qualify for asylum may have other pressing reasons for remaining in Sudan. She says many may not wish to return home because of strong family, social or economic ties with Sudan. (Signed)

NEB/LS/AWP/KBK