PESHAWAR, March 21: The UNHCR and western relief agencies have suspended their operations in the NWFP and evacuated their expatriate staff from Peshawar due to security reasons, officials told Dawn here on Friday.

One official of the UNHCR Peshawar office when contacted by Dawn confirmed that his office had been closed and the entire staff was on leave till Monday next.

Additional commissioner of the Afghan Commissionerate Mohammad Hafiz said that the UNHCR had suspended its ongoing repatriation programme on Friday due to security reasons.

He said the UN refugee agency would review its plan on Monday whether to continue repatriation programme or suspend it for indefinite period. He said the UN might not allow its workers to continue activities in the prevailing situation.

The UN agency has started repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan on March 3.

The provincial government has prepared a security plan for the safety of foreign nationals, relief agency workers and diplomatic missions in Peshawar.