IRIN
PAKISTAN: UNHCR suspends assisted Afghan repatriation for winter
2 December 2005


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

ISLAMABAD, 2 December (IRIN) - The office of the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Friday that it would 
temporarily close its Afghan voluntary repatriation operation from 
Pakistan for a winter break from 20 December till the end of February 
2006.

"All repatriation registration and departure centres of the UN refugee 
agency will remain closed during the winter months beyond 20 December, 
however, the encashment centres inside Afghanistan will remain 
operational for another week up till 27 December," Vivian Tan, a UNHCR 
spokeswoman, said in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Following the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the UN 
refugee agency launched its voluntary repatriation assistance programme 
in 2002 from Pakistan and Iran - the two primary host countries of the 
Afghan diaspora.

The UNHCR's repatriation assistance programme from Pakistan is governed 
by a tripartite agreement between Kabul, Islamabad and the UN refugee 
agency, and runs until December 2006.

As of 30 November, about 440,000 Afghan refugees have returned to 
Afghanistan this year from Pakistan under the UNHCR repatriation 
assistance programme that resumed on 7 March after the winter break. 
However, there is no record of spontaneous repatriation, although a 
significant number do cross into Afghanistan without approaching the UN 
refugee agency.

Under the programme, Afghan returnees are eligible for transport 
assistance ranging from US $4 to $37 per person, depending on the 
distance to their destination. Additionally, they also receive a small 
monetary grant to help them with additional costs.


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