By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, October 1: The US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy J Powell paid a good will visit to the Tibetan Reception Center on Wednesday along with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) chief in Nepal Mr Abraham Abraham.
This is Powell’s first visit to the Centre since her appointment in Nepal in July this year to succeed former ambassador James F Moriarty.
The Centre serves as a transitional point for Tibetan refugees escaping Tibet and seeking refuge in India.
Mrs Powell said the visit was “to have a little better understanding of the numbers and the people who are coming, the problems they encounter and, the very good care and the assistance that they receive when they get here (centre)”.
She said the US Government, along with UNHCR would continue their support towards newly arriving Tibetan refugees in securing their smooth transition to India.
“So, this has been an educational experience for me and a chance to meet the people who are working, to have a discussion with our UNHCR colleagues as well,” she added.
Prior to her present assignment, Mrs Powell had served as US Ambassador to Pakistan, Ghana and Uganda. She had also been the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Bangladesh and Togo. She was Consul General in Calcutta and also Political Counselor in New Delhi. She has worked as Nepal Desk Officer and Refugee Assistance Officer in State Department, Washington DC.
The Center currently has about sixty Tibetan refugees who are in transition to go to India. The Center provides to all the transitional needs of those escaping Tibet after necessary regulatory process and, with the help of different organizations, including the UNHCR sends them to India to seek refuge or, to fulfill the purpose of their visit.
Reliable source told Phayul that the Tibet Office in Kathmandu, which has been facing difficulties operating in Nepal for the welfare of Tibetans has submitted a petition to the new US Ambassador addressing the problems preventing the reopening of the Office.
