CHAMAN, Jan 19: Over 6000 new Afghan refugees have been registered by UNHCR during last three days after Pakistan authorities opened the border with Afghanistan and allowed refugees to enter the Killi Faizo Refugee Camp.
Pakistan had sealed its border with Afghanistan to check Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters from fleeing from the US bombing to enter Pakistan via the Chaman border.
“We are registering 430 families daily after Jan 16, and during the last four days around 6000 Afghan refugees have been registered in the border camp,” Mr Tor Emaus, an official of United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, said.
He said over 4000 refugees were stilling waiting in the no-man’s land to enter Pakistan for their registration.
He said the Afghan families waiting outside the Haji Faizo refugee camp were facing hardships due to severe cold as they were living in the open.
“Seven Afghan children died due to severe cold and hunger at Zero point during the closure of Pakistani border by the authorities,” Mr Aslam Denari told
this correspondent in the Haji Kili Faizo refugee camp. However, some other sources claimed that over a dozen children died at Zero point and refugees camp but officials did not confirm.
He said the UNHCR was also shifting Afghan refugees to different camps established in Roghani and Dara. “Over 39000 Afghan refugees have so far been shifted to these three camps after their registration in the Haji Killi Faizo camp,” he said.
