IOM Resettlement Operations in Damak

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) resettlement operations in Damak, eastern Nepal, constituted one of the largest and most sustained refugee resettlement processing operations in modern history. From 2007 to the mid-2020s, the IOM sub-office in Damak served as the primary logistical hub for preparing Bhutanese refugees in Nepal's Jhapa and Morang districts for resettlement to eight countries. Over 113,000 refugees passed through IOM's processing pipeline, which included case preparation, health assessments, cultural orientation classes, and transportation from the camps to their final destinations abroad.^[1]

Background

By the mid-2000s, approximately 108,000 Lhotshampa refugees were living in seven camps in eastern Nepal, having been expelled from Bhutan in the early 1990s. After 15 rounds of bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan failed to produce a repatriation agreement, the international community turned to third-country resettlement as the primary durable solution. In 2007, a core group of eight countries — the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom — agreed to accept refugees for resettlement.

In September 2007, the Government of Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IOM to carry out resettlement activities. IOM opened its sub-office in Damak, the nearest town to the refugee camps, in December 2007.^[2]

The Resettlement Support Center

The Resettlement Support Center (RSC) South Asia, operated by IOM, began its work in Damak in 2007 with the Bhutanese caseload and later expanded to handle cases from other countries in the region. The RSC was responsible for processing refugee files referred by UNHCR for consideration by resettlement countries. This included conducting interviews, preparing case files, coordinating with receiving governments, and managing the logistical pipeline from camp to departure.

At peak operations, the Damak sub-office employed over 200 local staff operating across Damak and all seven Lhotshampa camps (Beldangi I, Beldangi II, Beldangi II Extension, Goldhap, Khudunabari, Sanischare, and Timai).

Health Screening

All refugees accepted for resettlement underwent mandatory health assessments conducted by IOM's Migration Health Division (MHD). The MHD operated health assessment facilities in both Damak and Kathmandu. Services included general medical examinations, tuberculosis screening, chest X-rays, blood tests, immunizations, and fitness-to-travel assessments. The Damak facility included a well-equipped TB laboratory and two radiology units with a tele-radiology system, allowing most required services to be provided in-house without requiring travel to Kathmandu.^[3]

Refugees with treatable medical conditions received care before departure. Those with conditions requiring ongoing treatment had their medical records forwarded to receiving agencies in the resettlement country to ensure continuity of care.

Cultural Orientation

A critical component of the resettlement pipeline was the cultural orientation (CO) program. Refugees approved for travel — particularly those bound for the United States — underwent five days of structured cultural orientation classes provided by the RSC team. The curriculum covered a range of topics designed to prepare refugees for life in their new country, including:

• Personal hygiene and health practices in a Western context
• Transportation systems (airports, public transit, driving)
• Employment expectations and the importance of seeking work promptly
• The education system and school enrollment for children
• Housing, utilities, and household management
• Cultural adjustment, managing expectations, and coping with culture shock
• Legal rights and responsibilities
• The role of resettlement agencies upon arrival

Each resettlement country had specific CO requirements. The U.S.-bound program was the most extensive, reflecting the large volume of refugees destined for American cities.^[4]

Transportation and Transit

IOM managed the entire transportation chain from the refugee camps to final destinations abroad. The typical journey involved several stages: ground transportation from the camps to Bhadrapur airport in eastern Nepal, a charter flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu, processing at IOM's transit center in Kathmandu, and finally commercial international flights to the resettlement country.

At peak capacity, IOM organized approximately 1,500 refugee departures per month. The Kathmandu transit center provided temporary accommodation, final document checks, and pre-departure briefings before refugees boarded international flights.

Scale and Impact

The Bhutanese resettlement program processed refugees at a remarkable scale and pace:

The program has been described by UNHCR and humanitarian observers as one of the most successful large-scale refugee resettlement operations in history. However, critics within the refugee community have argued that resettlement, while providing safety and opportunity, effectively resolved the crisis on terms favorable to the Bhutanese government, which avoided accountability for the original expulsions.^[1]

See Also

• Bhutanese Refugees
• Statelessness and the Bhutanese Refugee Crisis
• Beldangi Refugee Camps

References

1. Resettlement of Refugees from Bhutan Tops 100,000 — IOM
2. IOM Resettlement of Bhutanese Refugees Hits 10,000 Mark — IOM
3. Migration Health Division (MHD) — IOM Nepal
4. Refugees from Bhutan / RSC South Asia — COR Center
5. Resettlement of Bhutanese Refugees Surpasses 100,000 Mark — UNHCR