Opening ceremony of Esfahan’s newly relocated Field Unit

The opening ceremony of Esfahan’s newly relocated Field Unit office took place in the presence of
UNHCR Representative Mr. Sivanka Dhanapala on 24 April. The Provincial Mayor, representative if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General of the Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA) of Esfahan and a number of other partners attended the opening ceremony of the UNHCR Office and all expressed full support for UNHCR interventions in the province.
Standing testament to the close and effective collaboration between UNHCR and BAFIA, the provincial and local authorities highly appreciated UNHCR and its donor contributions to refugee-assistance projects in a province which hosts the third largest refugee community in Iran.
The establishment of an office at Field Unit-level in Esfahan is another significant step in the improvement and expansion of UNHCR activities in Esfahan. The improved location of the office will make it easier for refugees to approach UNHCR and will also provide a more appropriate space for UNHCR colleagues to serve the refugee community in the area.
On the same day that the new office was officially inaugurated, two other important BAFIA-UNHCR opening ceremonies took place in the province: the inauguration of a 12 classroom school used by Iran and Afghan students, and a health post in a community heavily populated by refugees.
UNHCR will maintain its support to Government of Iran to ensure continued and increased access to essential services for refugees, and to maintain and expand their protection space.
For further information, please contact:

• Farha Bhoyroo, [email protected], +98 912 132 7183
• Paniz Zamanian, [email protected], +98 21 8934 9114