Pakistan asks Afghans to go back or shift to camp
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 9, IRNA
Pakistan-Afghans-Expulsion
Pakistan has announced that Afghans living near the capital in Rawalpindi city should go back or move to a refugee camp in another city by the end of May, the UN refugee agency said on Monday.
They have the option of assisted repatriation by the UN refugee agency, or relocation to Kot Chandna refugee camp in Mianwali in Punjab province, a UNHCR statement said.
According to the authorities, a total of 7,335 Afghans in Rawalpindi will be affected by this movement between May 15 and 30.
No reason has been given for the Afghans' expulsion, but Pakistan has cited security concerns for such decisions in the past.
Pakistan closed the lone Afghan refugee camp in the outskirts of Islamabad last year which was home to some 25,000 refugees.
Afghan elders are being asked to provide lists of names of those who wish to repatriate to Afghanistan or relocate to the District Coordination Officer's Office in Mianwali, the UNHCR statement said.
Repatriating Afghans who have been verified by UNHCR are eligible to receive a travel grant of between USD 4 and USD 37 each, depending on the distance of their destination inside Afghanistan, plus a grant of USD $12 each to ease reintegration once they reach home.
Afghans who opt to relocate will be moved to Kot Chandna camp, currently home to some 18,000 Afghan refugees.
The decision to expel refugees from Rawalpindi came two days after Pakistan struck a deal with the UNHCR to issue identity cards to Afghan refugees which will allow them to stay in Pakistan for three years.
2020/235/2321/1414
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
