Repatriation of Afghan refugees suspended from Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has decided to suspend the repatriation process of Afghan refugees in Pakistan for around four months due to cold weather.
According to a spokesperson of the UNHCR, the repatriation process will be halted from first of next month till 28th of February next year due to drop in temperature and severe cold.
He said all UNHCR centers in Pakistan and Afghanistan will remain closed during the winter.
Registered Afghan refugees will not be given financial compensation in case of return during the period.
The operation will resume from March next year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi handed over the enhanced contribution to Director UN Relief and Works Agency, Peter Mulrean in New York.
UNRWA ran into deep financial trouble earlier this year when the United States cut back its funding of the Agency by around three hundred million dollars.
Speaking on the occasion, Maleeha Lodhi said the people of Pakistan have always stood with their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
She said this assistance will help the UN agency to continue its relief efforts and keep the schools and clinics open for Palestinian refugee.
In a video message on the occasion, the UNRWA’s Commissioner General Krahenbuhl appreciated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian refugees.
