Afghanistan-Iran-UNHCR Agree On New Ways To Facilitate Voluntary Repatriation : UNHCR

Tehran, Jan 17, IRNA -- The Governments of Afghanistan and Iran, and UNHCR conducted a 2-day meeting on voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees, with a focus on exploring different ways to facilitate the voluntary, safe and dignified return for the refugees. UNHCR Tehran office said that during the meeting which took place on January 15-16 in Tehran, the parties discussed a number of practical ways to help Afghan refugees return and reintegrate back in their own country. All parties emphasized that the implementation of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees on Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Reintegration and Assistance to Host Countries requires robust resources and commitments from other involved parties, in particular development actors and donor countries. The Iranian government shared information on the challenges of voluntary return, as well as a proposal to make returns both sustainable and appealing to certain categories of refugees including entrepreneurs, college graduates and skilled workers. The Afghan Government and UNHCR welcomed the proposal. Mr. Bernard Doyle, UNHCR-Iran Representative appreciated the efforts of the Iranian nation and government in generously hosting refugees for over three decades. He said, “Burden-sharing with the International community is essential for solving refugee issues and providing them with better support and protection.” The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran undertook to issue the necessary permits to refugees who may want a chance to go to Afghanistan for a short while to prepare ground for eventual return. On reintegration, the parties acknowledged that more needs to be done to make the sites of high returns more habitable, and to assure returning refugees of shelter and livelihood. Since the start of the voluntary repatriation program for Afghan refugees in 2002 until December 2012 some 907,520 Afghan refugees repatriated from Iran with UNHCR assistance. The Iranian delegation was headed by Mr. Abdollahi, Deputy Minister of Interior for Security and Disciplinary Affairs and Dr. Aziz Kazemi, Director General of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs of the Ministry of Interior. The Afghan delegation was led by His Excellency Jamahir Anwari, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation. UNHCR Representatives from Iran and Afghanistan, as well as other colleagues from these offices and UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva were also present./end