KARACHI, May 6: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Karachi office, has facilitated the return of 10,000 Afghan refugees from the city since March this year.

Around 900 Afghan refugees comprising about 180 families left for Afghanistan from the UNHCR departure centre in Karachi during the past two days, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.

The repatriation is taking place under the UNHCR-facilitated Voluntary Repatriation Program launched after the signing of the tripartite agreement between the UNHCR and the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Under this agreement the UNHCR will facilitate, coordinate and monitor repatriation of all the refugees who wish to resettle in Afghanistan till the year 2005.

As per the agreement, the refugees are entitled to receive cash assistance to the tune of $5 to 30 per persons, as well as food and non-food assistance, on reaching their destination points inside Afghanistan.—PPI