UNHCR welcomes extension of stay for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
UNHCR welcomes Pakistan's renewal of its commitment to providing protection and safety for over 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees.
Pakistan's new minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Abdul Qadir Baloch, announced on Friday at a tripartite meeting with the Government of Afghanistan and UNHCR in Kabul that his country would extend refugee cards for Afghans, known as proof of registration (PoR) cards. The cards had been due to expire on June 30.
Pakistan remains the world's largest refugee hosting nation, and has generously hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of 1979.
The announcement by the States and Frontier Regions minister comes as Pakistan is finalizing a new national policy for Afghan refugees. The new policy is expected to be adopted soon by the Cabinet and includes recommendations for extension of PoR cards and continuation of a tri-partite arrangement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UNHCR governing voluntary returns of Afghan refugees.
UNHCR looks forward to the adoption of the new policy, as it provides a domestic framework for Pakistan's commitment to implement in letter and spirit the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees - a regional policy arrangement between the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and UNHCR to find solutions for one of the world's largest and most protracted refugee situations. The strategy, endorsed by an international gathering in Geneva in May 2012, supports repatriation, sustainable reintegration and assistance to host countries.
Extension of PoR cards will help end current uncertainty among Afghan refugees in Pakistan over their status. As an interim measure, we are encouraged to see an instruction from Minister Baloch's office sent to various authorities in Pakistan, including law enforcement authorities, asking them to respect existing refugee cards until the Cabinet decides on the new national policy, including extension of PoR cards.
UNHCR remains engaged with the governments of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan in facilitating voluntary returns and managing the stay of Afghan refugees, who need continued international protection in neighbouring countries. We also work to support the sustainable reintegration of Afghans who decide to voluntarily return to their country. In Pakistan, UNHCR and our partners remain engaged to develop infrastructure and improve services in refugee-affected and hosting areas, where communities have lived together with Afghan refugees for over three decades now.
As voluntary returns continue to take place, UNHCR is considering an increase in the return grant from US$150 to $200 for each Afghan refugee returning home, paid inside Afghanistan. Since 2002, UNHCR's voluntary repatriation programme has helped nearly 4.8 million Afghans return home (3.8 million from Pakistan and around a million from Iran). Around 22,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan so far this year.
For more information on this topic, please contact:
- In Kabul: Mohammad Nader Farhad on mobile +93 791 990018
- In Islamabad: Duniya Aslam Khan on mobile +92 300 5017939
- In Geneva: Babar Baloch on mobile +41 79 557 9106
Related news and stories
Women-run businesses in Afghanistan dealt a blow by deepening restrictions
UNHCR launches new appeal for Afghan refugees and hosts, urging partners to stay the course
I had to flee for my education, but refused to leave other Afghan girls to their fate
Former refugee, now volunteer teacher, helps other Afghan girls get an education
Families struggle for survival during Afghanistan's coldest winter in a decade
Afghan women affected by Taliban bans on work and study fear for their futures
Your search for « PoR cards » matched 149 results. Displaying page 17 of 17 pages.
-
Refugees and Others of Concern to UNHCR - 1999 Statistical Overview
1 Jul 2000 ... ... The population decrease during 1999 is explained in part by a revalidation of refugee cards (9,700). ... Origin AUS BEL BUL CZE1 DEN FIN FRA GFR2 GRE HUN ITA NET NOR POL POR SPA SWE SWI UK3 TOTAL ...... -
2nd European Conference on Nationality: "Challenges to national and international law on nationality at the beginning of the new millennium" (Strasbourg, 8 and 9 October 2001), Proceedings
10 Dec 2001 ... ... MOL = Moldova; NET = Netherlands; NOR = Norway; POR = Portugal; POL = Poland; SLK = Slovakia; SLN = ... such as: • Polish identity cards, • marriage/birth/death certificates, their ...... -
Refugees and Others of Concern to UNHCR - 1998 Statistical Overview
1 Jun 1999 ... ... assistance may be based on the delivery of refugee identity cards, estimates or population censuses. ... Origin AUS BEL DEN FIN FRA GFR GRE ITA NET NOR POR SPA SWE SWI GBR TOT Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,371 ...... -
International Migration and Human Rights - Global Migration Group (Regional Conference on Refugee Protection and International Migration in West Africa)
14 Nov 2008 ... ... and/or destruction of identification card and other documents; protection against ... enhancing the por- tability of pensions and strengthening the protection of migrant workers. ...... -
UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2016, 16th edition
Feb 2018 ... ... the number of persons who hold an Identity Card for National Verification, whose citizenship ... PLW Palau PNG Papua New Guinea POL Poland POR Portugal PUE Puerto Rico QAT Qatar ROM Romania ......