Sweden plans to give priority to refugees from Somalia and Eritrea in its efforts to resettle an estimated 1,700 to 1,900 United Nations (UN) refugees this year.

“Eritrean refuges in Sudan and Libya, who are fleeing the totalitarian regime in Eritrea, need the international community to make a contribution and do their part,” Dan Eliasson, the head of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), told Sveriges Radio (SR).

Each year, the Riksdag allocates funding allowing the Migration Board to bring between 1,700 and 1,900 refugees to Sweden under the UN’s quota programme.

Currently, Sweden is one of 19 countries which accept quota refugees on an annual basis.

While Sweden last year gave priority to refugees from Iraq and it the surrounding area, changing circumstances have resulted in a switch in focus.

“The situation continues to be tough near Iraq, in refugee camps in Jordan and Syria,” Eliasson told SR.

“The humanitarian situation is still difficult, but somewhat better. The situation in the horn of Africa is tougher. And so we, together with the UN refugee committee, have decided we can change direction somewhat.”

The shift will result in roughly 600 fewer Iraqi refugees coming to Sweden in 2010. Meanwhile, about 850 refugees will be transferred to Sweden from camps in Kenya, Sudan, and Libya.

“Somalia is a country which is in the process of imploding. The fighting around Mogadishu and the south is fierce and people are suffering,” said Eliasson. Source: (The Local)

By Cyrus Ombati

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has granted the 12 members of the Eritrean national soccer team asylum.

They were granted passes to allow them stay in Kenya as UNHCR works on their cases.

The players were interviewed by the Ministry of Immigration officials on Wednesday night and later granted asylum after being cleared by UNHCR.

After being given the stickers, which will last for three months, they were escorted to an undisclosed place in the city.

“They are under the UNHCR and cannot be arrested,” said an official at the UNHCR offices who sought anonymity.

Swore affidavits

The players are said to have displayed affidavits they swore before departing Asmara, saying they would not go back because of harassment in their country.

There was drama at the immigration offices as the players roughed up journalists who had camped there awaiting their arrival.

They later apologised saying they thought the journalists were police planning to arrest them.

The players resurfaced at the UNHCR offices in Nairobi days after they went missing to seek asylum status.

They arrived at the UNHCR offices in Westlands, Nairobi, in a hired car and went into a meeting with officials before being referred to the refugee offices at the Ministry of Immigration headquarters at Nyayo House, where their case was heard.

They made up nearly half the 25 players and coaches Eritrea sent to the soccer tournament for nations from East and central Africa.

Team organiser Nicholas Musonye alerted police when only 13 team members departed after the tournament ended on Sunday.

Police said they launched investigation and learnt none of the 12 players had a visa to remain in Kenya. Source: (The Standard)