AMERICA/PERU -A group of Haitians in Peru call for refugee status, with the support of the Church

Madre de Dios (Agenzia Fides) - The Episcopal Department of Pastoral Care of Human Mobility of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, has informed, on behalf of the Regional Office UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), that it has began operations for the recognition of the legal refugee status to approximately 30 people from Haiti, blocked in the city of Iñanpari (Department of Madre de Dios), and who have asked the Peruvian government to be considered refugees.
According to information sent to Fides by the Episcopal Conference of Peru, the Peruvian Catholic Migration Commission (CCPM), an executive UNHCR agency, has asked the local authorities and the National Police of Peru to respect and protect the status of immigrants of these Haitians. Furthermore, the representatives of the Pastoral Commission of Human Mobility of the Episcopal Conference have held talks with the head chief of the Region of Madre de Dios, Dr. Gimo Loayza Muñoz, with the appointed woman, Ms. Rocío Sotomayor, and with officials of the Ministry of the State.
An application for the recognition of refugee status was filed on April 2, signed by Pierre Pierrelus on behalf of the Haitian group, and the mayor of the province of Tahuamanu, Celso Curi Paucarmaita. The final decision is in the hands of the Peruvian government, and aims to provide humanitarian protection for Haitians after the disasters recorded in that country. For this reason, the Catholic Commission and the Department of Human Mobility of the Episcopal Conference went to Iñanpari to support the request and carry out the necessary formalities. (EC) (Agenzia Fides 04/29/2011)