UN refugee agency chief begins solidarity visit

Guterres will discuss lasting solutions and steps for management of Afghan refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, began a three-day Ramadan solidarity mission to Pakistan.

Guterres is expected to express his appreciation to the government and people of Pakistan for having hosted refugees from Afghanistan for over 35 years in line with Islamic values and the long-standing tradition of hospitality.

This is the Guterres’ seventh visit to Pakistan over his tenure as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The visit will enable him to get a first-hand look at the largest ongoing repatriation operation in UNHCR’s history, meet Afghan refugees and visit one of the refugee villages.

Since 2002, more than 3.8 million Afghan refugees have returned home from Pakistan with the assistance of the international community. During his stay, Guterres is also expected to meet the top national leadership, the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the largest refugee-hosting province, donors and UN and NGO partners.

Guterres will be discussing the way forward on lasting solutions and the management for Afghan refugees, in particular prospects for their sustainable return and reintegration; an issue that is inevitably linked to Afghanistan’s absorption capacity and broader development.

Guterres’ visit comes at a time of global concern over the plight of refugees and the future of some 2.6 million Afghan refugees who have been living outside their country for over three decades hangs in the balance.

Up to 92 countries have provided for Afghan refugees, but around 95 per cent of the Afghan refugees worldwide are hosted by Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan is hosting 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees; 67 per cent live in urban or rural areas, while 33 per cent reside in 76 refugee villages. In addition, there are an estimated 1 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan.

Pakistan is hosting 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees; 67 per cent live in urban or rural areas, while 33 per cent reside in 76 refugee villages. In addition, there are an estimated 1 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan.