ISLAMABAD – Minister for SAFRON & Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridihas expressed his country’s concerns over the new wave of violence inAfghanistan, saying that the recent rise in violence in Afghanistan maylead towards the new flow of refugees into Pakistan.
Afridi expressed these concerns during a meeting with the United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) Filippo Grandi at Geneva.
Afridi said that irrespective of the fast developments taking place inAfghanistan, Pakistan would stand by its commitment for the protection ofAfghan refugees. Briefing the UN High Commissioner on the measures taken bythe Government of Pakistan for the well-being and welfare of the Afghanrefugees, Afridiasked Filippo Grandi to work on the challenges being facedby Pakistan in hosting the Afghan refugees, said a message received here.
Afridi said that there was a need for the UNHCR teams to reach out tothe Afghan refugees staying in refugee camps and provide basichealth, education and other amenities.
Sharing his concerns with the UN High Commissioner on Refugees, Afridi saidthat the decrease in UNHCR allocation for Afghan refugees was a source ofalarm as refugees already needed more assistance in camps.
Briefing the High Commissioner on the humanist approach of PrimeMinister Imran Khan, Shehryar Afridi said that the premier had agreed toco-convene the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) set for December 2019.
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Stressing the UNHCR to accelerate efforts to facilitate the voluntaryrepatriation of Afghan refugees, Afridi said that all stakeholders neededto address the impact of refugees faced by host communities. He urgedthe UNHCR to highlight the contributions of host countries and hostcommunities through effective advocacy campaigns.
Afridi told the High Commissioner that Pakistan intends to convene aConference to showcase the 40 years of hospitalityof Afghan refugees in February next year and urged the UNHCR to mobilizesupport for the event.
The minister said that Pakistan did not need any assistance of itself, butthe UNHCR must be facilitated to help the refugees with basicamenities. Afridi lauded the engagementof Germany and Italy for refugees cause in Pakistan.
