MIANWALI, Jan 21: The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will launch projects to benefit the people on whose lands camps for Afghan refugees are set up.

This was stated by commissioner Riaz Ahmad Chaudhry while talking to a delegation of notables headed by Isakhel tehsil nazim Haji Shafaullah Khan Shadikhel during his visit to Kot Chandna Afghan refugee camp on Saturday.

The delegation apprised him of the damage done to the agricultural land in Isakhel Camp near Dara Tang. The commissioner assured them that the land vacated by the Afghan refugees would be rehabilitated.

Around 750 acres land of three villages — Kot Chandna, Kutch Tunder Khel and Tola Mangli — of Isakhel tehsil is being used as camp for the last two decades.

The refuges have built mud and stone houses. At present, 30,000 Afghans are living in the Kot Chandna camp.

The commissioner inspected the projects in the camp being run by the UNHCR including health, education and sanitation and showed his satisfaction.

He assured the representatives of Afghan refugees that the UNHCR would provide every possible assistance for their rehabilitation in their home country. According to a tripartite agreement reached among UNHCR, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the refugees have to leave Pakistan till Dec 31, 2006.