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| September 1, 2005 | Thursday | Rajab 26, 1426 |
Thousands of DPs awaiting return
PESHAWAR, Aug 31: About 1,000 Afghan refugee families have gathered at a UN makeshift centre near Parachinar in Kurram Agency, waiting for their turn for verification before proceeding to Afghanistan.
Officials said that the Afghan government had offered land and other incentives to fresh returnees which had created excitement among the refugees, who were in a hurry to return to their homeland.
In Parachinar, sources said, the makeshift centre lacked staff and equipment, hence, the returnees were facing difficulties to get clearance and repatriation assistance.
“The centre is overcrowded. There is no shelter or drinking water for the refugees who have gathered here, desiring repatriation,” a witness told Dawn.
Officials said that the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) and the UNHCR had sent additional staff and equipment to the area to expedite the verification process.
“Due to lack of arrangements, around 1,000 families, with their belongings and cattle on trucks, have been waiting in the parking area of the centre for the last three days, and more are on the way,” an official said.
Peshawar-based Commissioner Afghan Refugees Sahibzada Mohammad Anis visited the tribal area and requested the UN body to send more staff and IRIS machines to Kurram Agency to accelerate the verification process.
The UNHCR public relations officer, Shasha Ali, said staff strength had been increased and three additional IRIS machines provided at the centre, set up east of Parachinar city, the Kurram Agency’s headquarters.
“The UN agency has mobilised its available resources and manpower to facilitate the registered returnees,” she said.
She said there were certain factors which had encouraged Afghans to return to their country. The UN staff was facing rush at verification centres in Parachinar and Peshawar, but overall situation was under control, she added.
—Correspondent
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