A photographic exhibition showcasing the life experiences of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal is currently being held in Damak, Jhapa. The exhibition, which commenced on Tuesday, is scheduled to run for 10 days.
The inauguration of the photo exhibition took place jointly by Damak Municipality Mayor and UNHCR Nepal Representative Carolin Spannuth Verma during a program on Friday.
This collaborative effort between the UNHCR project and Damak Municipality aims to shed light on the journey of Bhutanese refugees, particularly those who previously resided in the Beldangi refugee camp, one of the largest refugee camps in Damak.
Deputy Mayor Regina Bhattarai stressed the significance of capturing the refugees’ lives through photography, emphasizing the historical context and the joint efforts between the government of Nepal and refugee donor agencies to uphold human rights.
Strategically positioned in front of Damak Municipality’s main office, the exhibition ensures easy access for both service users and public representatives.
Roshan Nepal, the spokesperson for UNHCR, stated that the displayed photographs illustrate the refugees’ journey from their initial conditions to resettlement in third countries.
The images portray various aspects of Bhutanese refugees’ lifestyles, resonating with both refugees and non-refugees visiting the exhibition.
Having historically hosted around 170,000 Bhutanese refugees, including those from the Beldangi camp, Nepal commenced third-country resettlement efforts in 2007. Presently, approximately 6,000 Bhutanese refugees reside in the camp.
However, recent developments indicate that donor agencies, including UNHCR, have ceased their assistance to the refugees.
