GABORONE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Refugees in Botswana have appealed to the international community to assist them with scholarships after the government of Botswana imposed a stricter encampment policy recently.
This call was made by the Dukwi Refugee Camp chairperson Bhekimpilo Weza in his speech delivered Tuesday during the World Refugee Day 2017 at the refugee camp, situated some 540km north of Botswana's capital city, Gaborone.
Botswana has been always implementing an encampment policy on refugees on her shores but it was not that strict until April this year. The government decided to make the policy stricter last year following Islamic terrorist threats.
Botswana has 2,113 recognized refugees from 14 countries throughout Africa. And most of the recognized refugees are from Islamic states of Somalia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
However, refugees here have complained that the stricter encampment policy has put many persons in exile at a greater risk of failing to further their studies. It is against this backdrop that the refugees are appealing for scholarships.
"Botswana government's stricter encampment policy has forced many refugees back into the camp wandering around with nothing to do," observed Weza.
Weza added: "We are therefore asking for the international community to assist with scholarships so that who finished the secondary education can have an opportunity to further their studies."
Because of the stricter encampment policy, refugees are not allowed to leave the camp into nearby cities to look for jobs. Refugees are also not allowed to start some income generating projects that may help them raise enough funds to sponsor their own higher education.
Weza revealed that a number of refugees are forced to quit school soon after secondary education due to lack of funding.
He urged the international community to propose further solutions, granting quick and effective shelter and protection for the refugees through resettlement or other humanitarian measures.
This year's World Refugee Day was commemorated under the theme "We stand Together With Refugees."
