 
Contact Address Details:
UNHCR
- Gambia
Banjul area Head Office address
Kotu East
The Gambia
West Africa
Tel no: +220 4464307 (Kotu
East refugee counselling center)
4464169 (High Commissioner)
4460850
Fax:
4464169
Email
See UN House at
Cape Point
 |
The country ratified the:
Convention on 07 Sep 1966
Protocol on 29 Sep 1967 |
|
Information:
United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees programme in
the Gambia started along with the rising civil conflicts in
West Africa.
The number of refugees has risen and fallen over the
years, yet what did not change was the fact that the Gambia
was seen as an attractive alternative for people fleeing their
country of origin due to increasing conflict. In 2005 it received
7,330 refugees and 602 asylum-seekers with the vast number
coming from Sierra Leone. UNHCR closed its liaison office
(LO) in December 2001 because of budget cuts, altered priorities,
and the desire to shift responsibility for the programme directly
to the implementing partners.
Following the closure of bureau in Gambia, BO Dakar in Senegal
assumed responsibility for management and oversight of all
activities related either to the protection of or assistance
to the refugee population in the Gambia. The supervision by
BO Dakar was said to allow for a more regional focus, harmonizing
approaches and procedures with countries hosting the same
populations of refugees. 12 BO Dakar continued to work with
the established “troika” of partner organizations in the Gambia.
The idea was to promote co-operation and accountability as
well as build capacity, without the high financial costs associated
with the presence of an in country office. This framework
was maintained until early 2003 when the decision to reinstate
LO Gambia was taken, resulting in LO Gambia being reopened
in May 2003.
Anglican Mission Development Ministry (AMDM) is a faith-based
organization implementing three projects: assistance to Sierra
Leonean refugees in Basse
refugee camp; a Primary/Vocational Education Programme: and
an Urban Refugee Programme in Banjul. Prior to involvement
with UNHCR, AMDM was involved in refugee-related issues through
their programme for the “church of the stranger”, which took
a holistic and advocacy approach on behalf of all uprooted
people.
With its head office based in Banjul it receives approximately
75% of its funding from UNHCR. The remaining portion of funding
comes from the World Council of Churches, a consortium of
churches known worldwide for focusing on helping uprooted
people.
In general, the Gambian Government has adopted a policy whereby
they allow for the refugees to enter the country and wait
for a durable solution to their plight. The 1951 Convention
and the 1967 protocol and the 1969 OAU Convention govern these
practices.9 As a member state of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS)10,
the Gambia abides by laws that grant economic rights, or the
right to work, to nationals of other ECOWAS states. However,
in order to move freely and work, refugees must possess a
residence permit.
The law requiring work permits that applies to the refugees
is the same law that is applied to all non-Gambians who seek
employment in the Gambia.
The exact number of refugees residing in the Gambia is not
known. The main reason is that the large urban population
is largely unaccounted for. Another reason is the permeability
of the Gambia – Senegal border (near the Casamance region)
where thousands of asylum-seekers are said to be living in
fear of claiming refugee status. UNHCR estimates that there
are approximately 12,000 refugees living throughout the Gambia.7
Other sources give estimates ranging from 10,000 to over 30,000
persons. The refugee population consists of Sierra Leoneans
who are in the majority, Senegalese who are the second highest
in number, Liberians, Somalis, Ethiopians, Rwandans, Iraqis
and Eritrean, the latter five groups being a very small portion
of the population. The major influx of refugees began in 1982
with the rising conflicts in West Africa, especially in the
Casamance region. This area has been the scene of clashes
between the government and separatist rebels. Fighting in
Sierra Leone and most recently Liberia has also significantly
contributed to the rise in the refugee population.
The situation and sentiments of refugees, UNHCR and its implementing
partners suggest that the livelihood security of refugees
living in the Gambia is being threatened in both urban and
rural refugee settings. A shift in emphasis from care and
maintenance to self-reliance would make refugee livelihoods
more secure. As the Gambia abides by the Geneva Conventions
and continues to pursue durable solutions for the rising number
of refugees, UNHCR has an increased role to play in assisting
them.
Source: UNHCR
|
