ISLAMABAD, MAR 17 (DNA) – The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that it
has suspended voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan
after the country temporarily closed border with Afghanistan over
COVID-19.

The voluntary repatriation program had resumed on March 2, 2020 after a
three-month winter break.

Nine families – a total of 28 individuals – have so far returned to
Afghanistan this month, according to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Pakistan hosts more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, holding
Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. Since 2002, some 4.4 million Afghan
refugees have returned to Afghanistan under the UNHCR-facilitated
voluntary repatriation operation.

Pakistan closed its border points – Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Chman in Balochistan this week as the country stepped up measures to
stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Following the closure of the Torkham and Chaman official
border-crossing points with Afghanistan, the voluntary repatriation of
registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan has been suspended. This is due
to precautionary measures taken by the Government to mitigate the spread
of COVID-19,” a UNHCR’s statement said.

The UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Centers at Azakhel, Nowshera in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Baleli, Quetta in Balochistan are therefore closed until
further notice. The Encashment Centers in Afghanistan have also been
closed.

“We have temporarily suspended voluntary repatriation due to the
extenuating circumstances. UNHCR’s utmost priority is to support global
efforts on lessening the spread and impact of COVID-19, and to assist
the Government of Pakistan with its comprehensive preparedness and
response plans,” said the UNHCR Deputy Representative in Pakistan, Iain
Hall.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been hit by the coronavirus, killing
several people while hundreds suspected cases reported.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health, Zafar Mirza said
on Monday the coronavirus cases in Pakistan have jumped to 94 from 53 in
past 24 hours.=DNA

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