World Refugee Day 2004: Tajikistan

UNHCR, with the support of local authorities, organised sport games in Kumsangir province for Tajik returnees. Sport teams from five districts of Khatlon province participated in games, such as volleyball, table tennis, football and family relay races. All participants received World Refugee Day T-shirts.

Children from local kindergartens also participated in an asphalt drawing competition. All children received school kits as rewards for their participation. A UNHCR staff member gave a presentation about the agency's activities in Tajikistan during the regular inter-agency meeting that was attended by the UN, international and national NGOs.

On 2 July, the press club of the international and national media was devoted to refugee and migration problems. UNHCR invited two Tajik returnee women from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan who shared their experiences of exile, repatriation and reintegration.