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UN, Afghanistan, Iran sign new pact on refugee returns

17 June – The governments of Iran and Afghanistan have signed a joint agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees.

The joint programme, a continuation of last year's repatriation agreement, stresses the voluntary nature of the return process and grants the UN refugee agency free access to refugees, both in Iran and upon their return to Afghanistan. Iran hosts nearly 2 million Afghan refugees, and with the agreement signed in Tehran yesterday comes the hope that some half a million people will take advantage of the assistance package on offer before the end of March 2004.

This repatriation process is equally important for both governments, and for Afghanistan, is indeed part of the continuing process of stabilization and reconstruction that started last year with the setting up of the transitional government, UNHCR said.

The fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan 18 months ago opened the gates for Afghan refugees - who had fled their country during decades of violent and almost incessant conflict - to go home at last. Grasping this unique opportunity, UNHCR worked closely with both the Afghan and Iranian authorities to devise a programme that would help the many Afghans wanting to repatriate. The first joint programme came out of these negotiations.

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees is now decreasing. In the past 12 months, more than 400,000 Afghan refugees have chosen to leave Iran for home. The numbers soared during the summer months of July and August 2002. At that time, UNHCR teams helped thousands of people every day with medical assistance and free transport from 10 voluntary repatriation centres located throughout Iran to the border crossing-point of Dogharoun.

Once in Afghanistan, returnees receive financial assistance for onward travel to their final destination. On the ground, UNHCR teams run local programmes to help returnees to start their life again in a country that many left years, if not decades, ago. Returnees are supplied with shelter-building kits, working tools and food aid from the UN World Food Programme. It is expected that up to 60,000 shelter units and 40,000 wells will be built or made usable again this year in cooperation with Afghanistan's Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation and the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development.