UNHCR, Swiss Confederation Seek Continued Int'l Support For Afghan Refugees, Hosts In Iran

Geneva, June 18, IRNA -- A high-level consultation in Geneva on Monday acknowledged Iran’s decades-long hospitality for Afghans, while seeking international community’s continued support for the refugees and their generous hosts. The event, co-hosted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Swiss Confederation, reviewed progress of the ‘‘solutions strategy’’ drawn up in 2012 by Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR to support voluntary repatriation, sustainable reintegration and assistance to host countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran hosts the world’s second largest protracted refugee population with some 840,000 Afghan refugees in the country. ˈThe fact that millions of refugees have been able to resume their lives in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where people have generously shared their resources with displaced Afghans for so long, should be recognized and fully supported by the international community” UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, urged the representatives of the donor countries present at the meeting. He said UNHCR remained committed to seek solutions for one of the world’s largest protracted refugee situations under the agreed strategy. Welcoming the second round of presidential elections in Afghanistan, Guterres said, “Afghan refugees share the same hope for peace and stability for their country as aspired to by the millions of voters on Sunday and we should not be abandoning them and their hosts at this critical historical juncture.” Though Afghans refugees in Iran enjoy access to education, health and job markets, resources are required to assist the Iranian government in maintaining these services. Inflation, the economic downturn and withdrawal of subsidies affect the hosts ability to continue its support without enhanced international burden sharing. Iran’s Minister of Interior Dr. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was in special attendance to review progress on the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees and explore the way forward in the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Returns to Afghanistan must be voluntary and sustainable. This requires livelihood and employment opportunities in Afghanistan. In the meantime, we should be able to establish sufficient services for refugees hosted in the Islamic Republic of Iran to live in decent conditions” he said. Under the Afghan solutions strategy’s portfolio for Iran, USD 150 million are sought to allow some 27 participating agencies to implement projects agreed with Iran that include livelihood activities that would lead to refugee self-reliance, youth empowerment, education and health schemes for the most vulnerable Afghan refugees. Among members of the international community present, several large donors and other countries committed to enhanced support in the form of financial resources and resettlement opportunities./end