(LINA ) – The Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Rev. Festus Logan, has expressed concern over the future reintegration process of Liberians that are expected to be returned home next March by the United States government.
The temporary protective status of some Liberians who went to the US during the civil war has expired but was extended to next March after it was previously extended by former US president Barack Obama under the Deferred Enforced Departure.
As the campaign for further extension intensified amongst folks whose immigration papers had expired, President Donald Trump also pushed the deadline by one year, thus calming the worries of the affected.
This means that the enforced departure or repatriation will take effect as of March 31, 2019.
At a recent press briefing, Rev. Festus Logan called on the central government to provide adequate funding to the LRRRC to enable it address institutional programs, including the processing, screening and subsequent reintegration of the returnees, most of whom left Liberia for nearly two decades.
“The coming of Liberians from the United States is important because some of them have skills that can also contribute to the growth and development of our country. This is a huge challenge that should claim the Government’s attention,” Rev. Logan noted.
The LRRRC boss had earlier told LINA that US$500,000 was allocated to the commission in the 2017-18 National Budget, noting that a big chunk of the money is used to pay employees’ salaries and so the allotment cannot address a lot of key challenges.
Worried over handling the DED returnees, Rev. Logan also pleaded for the intervention of international partners to support the LRRRC in the implementation of important programs like of the DED returnees and the internally displaced persons with special needs.
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