ISLAMABAD, May 12: The UNHCR has temporarily suspended voluntary repatriation of Afghans through Peshawar due to the unrest and fighting in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar.

A spokesman of the refugee agency told Dawn that the fighting has compelled UNHCR to close its encashment centre in Jalalabad. The centre gives returning Afghans from Pakistan aid package on their arrival there.

The disturbances in Nangarhar might also pose security problems to the returning Afghans, the spokesman added.

Since the repatriation process has been suspended, the refugee agency has also closed its voluntary repatriation centre (VRC) in Hayatabad (Peshawar) until further notice. Afghans wishing to return home through this VRC have been advised to check with UNHCR staff before they start the repatriation process, to avoid risks to their lives and save returning Afghans from any inconvenience.

UNHCR will inform Afghans once repatriation through Hayatabad VRC is resumed. The voluntary return operation from Baleli VRC in Balochistan will, however, continue.

According to UNHCR estimates, there are still more than two million Afghan refugees live in Pakistan. About 3.2 million have gone back during the last six years. More than 80,000 were repatriated in the last four months, since the beginning of the year 2008, the spokesman added.