Tripartite meeting on returns to Afghanistan

Briefing Notes, 10 October 2006

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis to whom quoted text may be attributed at the press briefing, on 10 October 2006, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Iran, Afghanistan and UNHCR yesterday began two days of discussions here in Geneva on voluntary repatriation to Afghanistan. High Commissioner António Guterres, Minister of the Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Pour Mohammadi, and Minister for Refugees and Repatriation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr. Mohammad Akbar Akbar opened the 11th Tripartite Commission Meeting on Voluntary Repatriation to Afghanistan. Monday's meeting was attended by leading donor countries and international organisations, and will continue today at the working level.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Guterres paid tribute to the exceptional solidarity and generosity of the government and people of Iran for hosting refugees for more than a quarter of a century. He also commended the government and people of Afghanistan for their continuing courage and resilience.

Following the Tripartite Commission meeting, the High Commissioner and Minister Pour Mohammadi held bilateral talks, which included prospects for further repatriation, reintegration needs inside Afghanistan, protection concerns, and assistance interventions. A Joint Project was signed on a range of assistance projects aimed at improving skills through vocational training programmes and providing education and medical assistance for the remaining Afghans in Iran. Copies of the Joint Statement issued by the High Commissioner and the Minister are available at the back of the room.

Mr. Pour Mohammadi was visiting Geneva upon an invitation extended by the High Commissioner during his visit to Iran in November last year. As Minister of the Interior, Mr. Pour Mohammadi oversees the Bureau for Alien and Foreign Immigrant Affairs (BAFIA), which is UNHCR's main interlocutor.

For more than a quarter of a century Iran has hosted one of the largest ever populations of refugees, and today still hosts some 920,000 registered Afghans and 54,000 Iraqis. Since 2002 over 1.5 million Afghans have returned home from Iran, 850,000 with UNHCR's assistance. An additional 200,000 Iraqis have also been repatriated since the 2003 change of regime in Iraq. This year's returns from Iran has been the lowest in years, to just over 4,500 until September 2006. Some 155,000 Afghans have returned spontaneously outside the voluntary repatriation framework.

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Afghanistan: Rebuilding a War-Torn Country

The cycle of life has started again in Afghanistan as returnees put their shoulders to the wheel to rebuild their war-torn country.

Return is only the first step on Afghanistan's long road to recovery. UNHCR is helping returnees settle back home with repatriation packages, shelter kits, mine-awareness training and vaccination against diseases. Slowly but surely, Afghans across the land are reuniting with loved ones, reconstructing homes, going back to school and resuming work. A new phase in their lives has begun.

Watch the process of return, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction unfold in Afghanistan through this gallery.

Afghanistan: Rebuilding a War-Torn Country

Rebuilding Lives in Afghanistan

With elections scheduled in October, 2004 is a crucial year for the future of Afghanistan, and Afghans are returning to their homeland in record numbers. In the first seven months of 2004 alone, more than half a million returned from exile. In all, more than 3.6 million Afghans have returned since UNHCR's voluntary repatriation programme started in 2002.

The UN refugee agency and its partner organisations are working hard to help the returnees rebuild their lives in Afghanistan. Returnees receive a grant to cover basic needs, as well as access to medical facilities, immunisations and landmine awareness training.

UNHCR's housing programme provides tool kits and building supplies for families to build new homes where old ones have been destroyed. The agency also supports the rehabilitation of public buildings as well as programmes to rehabilitate the water supply, vocational training and cash-for-work projects.

Rebuilding Lives in Afghanistan

The Reality of Return in Afghanistan

Beyond the smiles of homecoming lie the harsh realities of return. With more than 5 million Afghans returning home since 2002, Afghanistan's absorption capacity is reaching saturation point.

Landmine awareness training at UNHCR's encashment centres – their first stop after returning from decades in exile – is a sombre reminder of the immense challenges facing this war-torn country. Many returnees and internally displaced Afghans are struggling to rebuild their lives. Some are squatting in tents in the capital, Kabul. Basic needs like shelter, land and safe drinking water are seldom met. Jobs are scarce, and long queues of men looking for work are a common sight in marketplaces.

Despite the obstacles, their spirit is strong. Returning Afghans – young and old, women and men – seem determined to do their bit for nation building, one brick at a time.

Posted on 31 January 2008

The Reality of Return in Afghanistan

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Croatia: Sunday Train Arrivals

On Sunday a train of 1800 refugees and migrants made their way north from the town of Tovarnik on Croatia's Serbian border. They disembarked at Cakovec just south of Slovenia. Most of the people are Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi. Their route to Western Europe has been stalled due to the closing of Hungarian borders. Now the people have changed their path that takes through Slovenia. Croatia granted passage to over 10,000 refugees this weekend. Croatian authorities asked Slovenia to take 5000 refugees and migrants per day. Slovenia agreed to take half that number. More than a thousand of desperate people are being backed up as result, with more expected to arrive later Monday.
Croatia; Destination UnknownPlay video

Croatia; Destination Unknown

Pakistan: Returning HomePlay video

Pakistan: Returning Home

Since the beginning of November, UNHCR has been offering an enhanced package to every registered refugee in Pakistan choosing to go home to Afghanistan.