Afghanistan 10 years after Soviet pull-out
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
A decade after the last Soviet soldier left Afghan soil, and 20 years after the first groups of Afghan refugees fled the Soviet invasion, more than 2.6 million Afghans still remain in exile.
The Afghans have remained the single largest refugee group in the world for 19 years in succession, although their continuing plight has, in recent years, been overshadowed by newer conflicts and refugee movements elsewhere in the world.
By the end of 1979 - the year the Soviet army entered Afghanistan in support of the communist regime which had seized power the previous year - there were already 400,000 refugees in Pakistan and 200,000 in Iran. By 15 February 1989, the number had risen to a staggering 6.2 million, split almost equally between the two neighbouring countries, which showed extraordinary generosity in hosting such a vast number of refugees on their territory, despite the burden they represented to their own societies, environment and infrastructure. In both Iran and Pakistan, the refugees were allowed to work, and received considerable government support in the education and health sectors.
Since the Soviet withdrawal, almost two thirds of the refugees have returned to their devastated and poverty-stricken country, despite the outbreak of a new war between different Afghan groups competing for power. In all, more than 4 million Afghans have returned home voluntarily since 1989 - another refugee record - and a remarkable testimony to their courage.
While it was the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan that caused the majority of the refugees to flee, it is subsequent events - almost uninterrupted fighting between constantly shifting alliances of Afghan political groups and militias, continued human rights abuses, and a shattered economy and infrastructure - that is preventing the final settlement of the Soviet legacy.
The strength of the refugees' desire to rebuild their lives in their home country was amply demonstrated in 1992, after the communist government, shorn of its superpower support, finally fell from power. During the course of that year, a total of 1.6 million refugees went home. In 1993, another million followed suit, even though by then the capital city, Kabul, was being torn apart by infighting between different Afghan factions.
By the late 1990s, the numbers returning to relatively safe parts of the country - of which there are plenty - were still adding up to around 100,000 a year. However, many of the remaining refugees are understandably reluctant to return under current circumstances.
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UNHCR Global Report 2006 - Afghanistan
1 Jun 2007 ... Afghanistan Operational highlights • UNHCR assisted approximately 139,000 Afghan refugees to return home in 2006. • The Office helped returnee reintegration by constructing some 18,500 shelters, ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2002 - Addendum: Afghanistan
1 Dec 2001 ... UNHCR 2002 Global Appeal (Addendum) - 12 Afghanistan Main Objectives • Facilitate and co-ordinate the initial return of up to 1,200,000 refugees and IDPs. • Monitor population movements to and ...... -
From one end of Afghanistan to another, refugee families share desire for home
24 Apr 2006 ... refugees have returned home, the majority assisted by UNHCR. With the return of more than half a million refugees last year, Afghanistan continued to represent the agency's largest return operation. ...... -
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3 Mar 2006 ... HAYATABAD, Pakistan, March 3 (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency's fifth season of assisted returns to Afghanistan from Pakistan started this week amid some uncertainty and indecision among refugees. A ...... -
Afghan returnees make molehill out of mountains
6 Jun 2003 ... KABUL, June 6 (UNHCR) - Gul Salam wants to return to Afghanistan, and he won't let mountains stand in his way. "I have been waiting for this moment for 23 years," said the 60-year-old Afghan refugee ...... -
Afghans surge homewards under UN refugee agency return programme
4 Mar 2002 ... JALALABAD, Afghanistan, March 4 (UNHCR) - Returns to Afghanistan surged on Monday with the repatriation of 3,009 Afghans on the second day of a new UNHCR programme. Afghans anxious to return home ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2008 - Afghanistan
1 Jun 2009 ... than 278,000 registered Afghans were able to return to their homeland with UNHCR assistance in 2008. ... in November 2008 saw the Government of Afghanistan and the international community endorse ...... -
The 10-Point Plan in Action, 2016 Update, Chapter 9: Return Arrangements for Non-Refugees and Alternative Migration Options
Dec 2016 ... support UNHCR can provide to partners ...... 231 9.1 RETURN ......and separated children to Afghanistan ......... -
Afghanistan: Efforts to screen out false claimants
23 Jul 2002 ... Under the programme, more than 1.3 million Afghan refugees have voluntarily repatriated to Afghanistan ... 53,000 refugees registering to return last week, down from more than 77,000 the week before. ......