Menu
27/02/2004
UN's Afghan repatriation programme to restart
The UN's refugee agency will next week resume repatriating refugees to Afghanistan from Pakistan, three months after one of its staff members was murdered.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that it expected to help about 400,000 refugees return from Pakistan this year – on top of the 1.9 million who have already made the trip and a further 660,000 who have returned to Afghanistan from Iran.
Returning refugees can expect to be given food, a small travel grant and some supplies by UNHCR to help them re-adjust to life in their homeland.
UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said that the decision to resume repatriation followed assurances from the Afghan and Pakistani governments and the introduction of extra security precautions by the agency itself.
UNHCR halted repatriations after staff member Bettina Goislard, a 29-year-old French national, was shot dead in the Afghan city of Ghazni in November. Mr Redmond said her murder “followed months of increasing violence against humanitarian workers in Afghanistan”.
Mr Redmond said UNHCR had found “significant interest” in repatriation among Afghans living in refugee camps in Pakistan. Almost half the residents of a camp at Shalman, for example, have expressed a desire to return when the camp closes next month, he said.
(gmcg)
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that it expected to help about 400,000 refugees return from Pakistan this year – on top of the 1.9 million who have already made the trip and a further 660,000 who have returned to Afghanistan from Iran.
Returning refugees can expect to be given food, a small travel grant and some supplies by UNHCR to help them re-adjust to life in their homeland.
UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said that the decision to resume repatriation followed assurances from the Afghan and Pakistani governments and the introduction of extra security precautions by the agency itself.
UNHCR halted repatriations after staff member Bettina Goislard, a 29-year-old French national, was shot dead in the Afghan city of Ghazni in November. Mr Redmond said her murder “followed months of increasing violence against humanitarian workers in Afghanistan”.
Mr Redmond said UNHCR had found “significant interest” in repatriation among Afghans living in refugee camps in Pakistan. Almost half the residents of a camp at Shalman, for example, have expressed a desire to return when the camp closes next month, he said.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
29 October 2003
UNHCR report 2.5m refugees return to Afghan
It has been revealed that more than 2.5 million Afghans have returned to their homeland since a repatriation programme began in March last year. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of people returning from Iran has just passed 600,000. The agency said the number returning from Pakistan has now topped 1.9 million.
UNHCR report 2.5m refugees return to Afghan
It has been revealed that more than 2.5 million Afghans have returned to their homeland since a repatriation programme began in March last year. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of people returning from Iran has just passed 600,000. The agency said the number returning from Pakistan has now topped 1.9 million.
17 August 2004
UN suspends Iraqi repatriation over security fears
The UN refugee agency has temporarily suspended its convoys for Iraqis wishing to return from neighbouring Iran because of the fighting raging in the south of the country and a housing shortage in the north.
UN suspends Iraqi repatriation over security fears
The UN refugee agency has temporarily suspended its convoys for Iraqis wishing to return from neighbouring Iran because of the fighting raging in the south of the country and a housing shortage in the north.
17 August 2004
Safe resettlement of Burundi massacre survivors to begin
Discussions between the UN and Burundi government have begun today into the transfer of survivors of last week’s massacre of Congolese refugees to a safe new camp. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that work would begin shortly on a site of safe refuge following Friday night’s slaughter which claimed the lives of 150 people.
Safe resettlement of Burundi massacre survivors to begin
Discussions between the UN and Burundi government have begun today into the transfer of survivors of last week’s massacre of Congolese refugees to a safe new camp. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that work would begin shortly on a site of safe refuge following Friday night’s slaughter which claimed the lives of 150 people.
16 August 2004
Britain condemns massacre at Burundi refugee camp
The British government has joined the United Nations in strongly condemning the massacre of at least 150 people at a refugee camp in Burundi. Scores were killed and over a hundred injured when the Gatumba camp, which lies 16km northwest of Bujumbura near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was attacked by rebel forces.
Britain condemns massacre at Burundi refugee camp
The British government has joined the United Nations in strongly condemning the massacre of at least 150 people at a refugee camp in Burundi. Scores were killed and over a hundred injured when the Gatumba camp, which lies 16km northwest of Bujumbura near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was attacked by rebel forces.
03 October 2003
Appeal launched to avert 'humanitarian disaster' in Sudan
The UN refugee agency has launched an urgent appeal for $16.6 million to avert a humanitarian disaster on the Chad-Sudan border – where more than 65,000 Sudanese refugees are fleeing fighting.
Appeal launched to avert 'humanitarian disaster' in Sudan
The UN refugee agency has launched an urgent appeal for $16.6 million to avert a humanitarian disaster on the Chad-Sudan border – where more than 65,000 Sudanese refugees are fleeing fighting.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A few fog patches at first, soon clearing to leave a dry day with some patchy cloud and good sunny spells. Light and variable winds. Feeling mild in sunny spells. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:Dry and quite chilly overnight under prolonged clear spells and light winds. This will allow a few fog patches to develop in places. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
