“60% of Refugee Returnees from Ghana Battle Drug Addiction”; LRRRC Reveals
By: Feeme Wantee
Liberia (May 29, 2024) The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC)has revealed that 60% of Liberian refugees returning home from Ghana are battling drug addiction.
Patrick Worzie, Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission made the disclosure on Tuesday May 28, 2024 during the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism regular press briefing.
Director Worzie also disclosed that there are harrowing conditions faced by the first batch of returnees who arrived on May 21, 2024. He noted that among them were fifteen individuals battling severe mental health issues, over sixteen pregnant women, and a staggering one hundred and eighty-three children under the age of 5.
However, the LRRRC boss said that the Liberian government, under the leadership of the Boakai-Koung administration, has swiftly responded to this crisis by announcing plans to construct a dedicated rehabilitation center for these individuals. The move comes amidst concerns over the welfare and integration of returning refugees.
In a bid to support the reintegration process, the LRRRC committee, in collaboration with the Liberian government, has outlined a comprehensive assistance package for returnees. This includes scholarships, healthcare facilities, counseling services, and dedicated caregivers. Additionally, each household will receive essential supplies such as rice, vegetable oil, mobile phones with SIM cards, and mosquito nets.
Financial support is also being extended, with head of households slated to receive three hundred US dollars, while each household member will be granted two hundred and twenty-five US dollars.
Mr. Worzie assured the public that measures are being implemented to ensure that all relief assistance provided by international partners is efficiently managed, coordinated, and accounted for.
Despite ongoing efforts, the Liberia government, through the LRRRC, is yet to receive the next batch of one thousand five hundred and thirty-nine refugees before the looming deadline of May 31, 2024.
The Liberian government has been engaged in diplomatic discussions with the Ghana Refugee Board and relevant authorities since the unfolding of the crisis on February 26, 2024. The decision to demolish the Buduburam camp, which housed Liberian refugees on land owned by the traditional council of Ghana, has escalated tensions between the two nations.
As Liberia navigates the complexities of refugee return and resettlement, the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by returnees remains steadfast, with a renewed focus on rehabilitation and support services for those in need.
