Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asked the international community to seek a sustainable solution for Afghan refugees.
The UNHCR High Commissioner Assistant for Protection and Operations, George Okoth-Obbo said on Sunday that the number of refugees returning under the UNHCR assistant repatriation operation is growing concerns among refugees in the neighboring countries over the deteriorating security and economic condition in Afghanistan.
“As we can see the refugee crisis in Afghanistan, the international community has the ability to respond in a very strong at decisive way. It is very important that the Afghan refugees’ situation which has been running now to be supported strongly,” Okoth-Obbo said.
He said the international community should support 2.4 million refugees in Iran and Pakistan and provide essential facilities like employment, sustainable livelihood and access to healthcare services.
“During the current year, 2,200 Afghans retuned from Pakistan and Iran, a low figure comparing to last year.”
The UNHCR drew attention to the rising number of internal displaced persons because of growing insecurity, calling on Afghan movement to ensure adequate protection.
“Over 80,000 Afghans so far have been displaced in 2016, while in 2015, 380,000 people were forcibly displaced from their homes as the result of conflict. Hundreds of longstanding IDPs who often lack access to basic services and security of tenure remaining in makeshift,” he said.
Some European countries have decided to deport Afghan refugees, a move that created a lot concerns among Afghan refugees.
Insecurity, joblessness, lack of access to the public services are called as the main factors for displacing and migrating of Afghans to Europe.
Afghan officials strongly criticized Europe’s decision, saying that the government would not accept the deportees as Afghan.
