UNHCR plans for Sudan repatriation as peace talks inch forward
UNHCR staff have been working in south Sudan since late last year to lay the groundwork for returns to the war-ravaged region once the parties to the 21-year-old civil war reach agreement. But despite hopeful signs coming out of the negotiations in Kenya, money to finance the operation remains tight.
UNHCR raises repatriation forecast as Afghan returns surge
Following an unexpected increase in the number of Afghans registering to repatriate to their homeland, UNHCR and the Pakistani government have increased their estimate of the number of refugees who may go back this year to 500,000 persons.
Lubbers discusses repatriation with Iranian government and Afghan refugees
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers met with the Iranian Vice-President on the second day of talks with the Iranian government about the repatriation of Afghan refugees. He also held illuminating discussions with Afghan refugee leaders living in Iran.
UNHCR opens Afghan repatriation season
Small groups of Afghan refugees have left Pakistan for home, marking the start of assisted returns this year, when UNHCR expects some 400,000 refugees to return from Pakistan.
Security vital for repatriation, say Afghan, Pakistani officials
Security in Afghanistan was a key issue as officials from Afghanistan and Pakistan met with senior UNHCR staff in a regular session of a tripartite commission on repatriation. They also discussed voter registration for Afghan refugees in Pakistan ahead of the Afghan elections next year.
UNHCR resumes repatriation from Guinea to Sierra Leone
After a three-month break over the rainy season, the UN refugee agency has started helping Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea to go home again. It plans to help close to 1,000 return before the end of the year, ahead of more convoys and a gradual phase-out next year.
UNHCR to suspend repatriation from Zambia to Angola amid rains
The last return convoy of Angolan refugees in Zambia will take place next week before roads become completely impassable in the rainy season. However, organised returns from Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue to parts of Angola that are still accessible.
Mobile teams bring repatriation news to rural Afghan refugees
Small teams of staff from the UN refugee agency travel regularly to the more remote areas of Iran to inform Afghan refugees about UNHCR's repatriation programme and conditions in their home areas in Afghanistan.
UNHCR resumes sea repatriation from Monrovia; urges refugees to go home
More than 200 Sierra Leonean refugees have sailed home as the UN refugee agency restarted its sea evacuation to Freetown. Concerned about continuing insecurity in Monrovia and the outlying camps, UNHCR is encouraging refugees from Sierra Leone to return home.
Lubbers discusses repatriation with Iraqi refugees in Iran
UN refugee agency chief Ruud Lubbers has raised hopes that a first pilot return convoy from Iran to Iraq may be organised in August. However, he warned of the obstacles involved and stressed that returns to Iraq must initially be small and gradual.