October 25, 2001	Thursday	Shaba'an 7, 1422

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QUETTA, Oct 24: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan fears an influx of 1.5 million Afghan refugees “if situation deteriorates in Afghanistan”, Fatoumata Kaba, the UNHCR spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

Fatoumata held a detailed discussion with her colleague in Islamabad and visiting Chaman where she he had gone to hand over 60 tents at Killi Haji Faizu along Chaman border.

The UNHCR is at present making arrangements, both in NWFP and Balochistan, to accommodate 300,000 refugees and needs 50 million dollars urgently. “We are approaching all donors to release the promised amount,” she told newsmen.

Pakistan government has provided seven hectors land to the UNHCR Chaman where 600 tents can be pitched to accommodate a total of 3,600 Afghan refugees. She said an emergency relief centre with provision of health facilities is being set up at the same place. The Centre has received 50,000 doses of measles vaccines.

The UNHCR has drawn three strategies to meet the future needs. The first is arrival of 300,000 refugees for which the Commissioner office in Pakistan is going ahead with setting up arrangements. The officials expect that after these arrangements are finalized, the government may open borders and allow refugees to come in. They expect that if situation prolongs one million refugees may add deteriorating the situation. The Afghanistan fighting may force 1.5 million to leave their homes and seek shelter in Pakistan.