QUETTA: The UNCHR observed the World Refugee Day on Tuesday to express solidarity with Afghan refugees living in Pakistan for the past 30 years.

The head of the UNHCR’s sub-office in Quetta, Fabio Varoli, said at a function that culture was a neutral and powerful means to generating solidarity and sensitivity among fellow human beings. The cultural arts, he said, helped in explaining the worldview and challenges.

He said refugees were common people experiencing extraordinary times and their stories should be shared through arts, music and culture.

He called on the world community to help Pakistan ease its additional burden of hosting 1.6 million refugees for more than three decades. He commended the Pakistani government for going through financial crunch only to make available maximum facilities to millions of refugees.

The government with the assistance of the UNCHR had repatriated about 3.8m refugees to Afghanistan, Mr Varoli said. However, he noted, poor law and order situation and lack of basic facilities in Afghanistan had slowed down the repatriation process.

Chief guest Jamal Shah said that displacement was not a choice since refugees sought protection to their lives, honour and dignity.

The registered refugees desiring to return home were advised to approach any of the Voluntary Return Centres in Peshawar, Quet­ta, Timergara and Bannu.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play