Successful Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans

The United States congratulates the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the successful repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees. This week, the last convoys returning refugees to Sierra Leone left Liberia and Guinea, capping a repatriation effort that has resulted in the return home of 490,000 Sierra Leonean refugees since 2001.

The United States is a strong supporter of durable solutions for refugees, including repatriation, local integration and resettlement. Since peace was restored to Sierra Leone in 2000, we have contributed $36.5 million towards refugee repatriation and reintegration efforts through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and its United Nations and non-governmental partners. We have also resettled over 5,540 Sierra Leonean refugees, as well as granted temporary protected status to Sierra Leoneans in the United States through May 2004. We are pleased that Sierra Leoneans are now able to return home, and we wish them the best as they begin anew their lives.

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