GENEVA: The tragedy of displaced East Pakistanis in India has taken a new shape following recent floods and the conditions of their repatriation have not yet been fulfilled Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, UN High Commissioner for refugees, said here today [Oct 4]. Speaking at a meeting of the Commission the Prince described the situation in the refugee camps as “catastrophic”.

Recent floods have worsened the living conditions in the camps and hindered the distribution of aid. ... Displaced people have received millions of dollars from the international community, but the High Commissioner said supplying aid to India is not a lasting solution to the refugee problem. The best solution is “voluntary repatriation” which is only possible by an agreement between Pakistan and India.

The High Commissioner criticised certain Governments who ... “make innocent refugees victims” of their “inflexible protectionist measures”. Prince Sadruddin said more funds were urgently needed for “the gigantic and cruel problem”. He told delegates from 31 countries at the opening of a 10-day meeting of the Executive Committee of the UN refugee programme that over the past year the world refugee situation had become worse.... — News agencies

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2021