57 CAMEROONIANS GIRLS AWAIT REPATRIATION IN KUWAIT GOVERNMENT SHELTER

Some 57 Cameroonian girls are awaiting voluntary repatriation from the Government Shelter for Foreign Workers, located in the Jleeb Al Sheyoukh neigbourhood in Kuwait.

A list of the names and the time they have spent there, pending voluntary repatriation (copy which we procured) was sent last week by the ladies to the Cameroon government.

KUWAITI GOV'T SHELTER

The 'trapped' girls have been at the Government Shelter for periods ranging from one to eight months. 

Some because their former ‘employers‘ from where they escaped to seek refuge at the Central African Republic Embassy and then the Kuwait Government Shelter, are keeping their passports. Others are without flight tickets and yet some without the necessary required travel documents otherwise known as ‘laisser passezs.’  

Mohmamed El Zarkani, Programme Manager in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kuwait explained that there could be several factors that contribute to the delay of voluntary repatriation.

PROVIDING SUPPORT

 “It depends about the case. When they don't have an Embassy in Kuwait it could be a factor. The shelter would have to communicate with the closest Embassy in a neighbouring country and that could take some time. 

Another cause could be if their finger print test does not show the identity on the system. Then the shelter in collaboration with organizations such the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has to go through a family tracing procedure which could be quite lengthy. More recently, the Government Shelter in collaboration with the IOM have provided workers identified as Victims of Trafficking,VOT, with Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR),” he explained.

WHEN WOULD GOVT TAKE ACTION?

Information has also been circulating for almost a week, announcing a visit of a delegation of Cameroonian officials to the Middle East.

MINREX's ADOUM GARGOUM : HOW SOON ?

“The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Islamic Affairs, Adoum Gargoum would be leading the delegation. The Delegation is due to visit Kuwait, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates and Quata and would spend three days in each country. Their mission is to look at means of organizing quick repatriation of Cameroonians stranded in the Middle East and investigate about those who are suffering. 

They are to establish working partnerships with the different governments and finalizing some of the said diplomatic relationships.  The delegation is also due to meet employers syndicates or recruiting agencies,” a source at the Ministry of External Relations said. “When the time comes we would be informed. The Ministry is finalizing on the dates,” said another source when quizzed on the exact date the mission would begin.

IYA TIDJANI: CAM AMBASSADOR , SAUDI ARABIA

It is also reported that the government of Lebanon has agreed to meet the delegation while the Kuwaiti government is yet to provide a fix date. February 20 2016 is an unconfirmed date being however advanced, with MINREX advising those who feel maltreated to rush to the government shelter.

 “We have heard several times that the government is sending a delegation but we have seen no one.  We just expect them to come and facilitate our return to Cameroon from this place,” lamented one of the ladies at the Government Shelter.

CREATING MORE EMBASSIES IN MIDDLE EAST?

“It is essential that the Government of Cameroon establishes an Embassy in Kuwait to provide essential services (i.e. issuance of travel documents, legal assistance, etc …) to the Cameroonian expatriate community in Kuwait. In addition, as most trafficking situation starts with false employment promises at the Country of Origin, it is also critical to note down the sending communities in Cameroon where traffickers are active and implement awareness campaigns in these communities. 

RETURNEE(R) LEAVES  KUWAIT AIRPORT 

There is need to institutionalize a pre-departure orientation program to all workers coming to the Gulf to bridge the gap of information on type of employment and culture in Countries of Destination. 

If they are aware of the type of job, culture and working condition, they get to make an informed decision if they want to pursue this opportunity or not hence potentially reducing friction with employers upon arrival,” El Zarkani suggested to the Cameroonian government.

KUWAIT RETURNEES: DLA AIRPORT

Amid complains about the living conditions at the Kuwait Government Shelter for Foreign Workers established in late 2014, as the government institution mandated with providing protection for vulnerable foreign workers in Kuwait, 

The International Organization for Migration does not consider the Shelter as an administrative deportation camp. “Once admitted to the shelter, workers are provided with medical assistance, legal advice, psychosocial support, food and accommodation. The shelter staff also 

communicates with the employers to retrieve withheld travel documents and payments for return tickets. It is not an administrative deportation camp as many would want to make believe. Shelter residents are free to exit the shelter anytime they wish. IOM is immensely pleased that the Government of Kuwait has adopted such a humane approach to provide protection for Victims of Trafficking and is hoping to continue expanding this service to all victims in need,” said El Zarkani.