ISLAMABAD, March 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.