KABUL – The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warmly welcomes a donation of USD 20 million from the Government of Japan to support the Agency's return and reintegration programs for returnees in Afghanistan.
The Government of Japan signed an agreement confirming its ongoing support to one of UNHCR's largest operations in the world. Whilst the bulk of the funding will go to the travel and reintegration cash grants for Afghans returning from neighboring Pakistan and Iran, it will also be supporting activities outlined in the Afghan reintegration strategy which aims at finding durable solutions for the returnee population.
The generous contribution by the Government of Japan will fund reintegration activities to be carried out in selected sites for 2012. These will include building around 2,000 shelter units, establishing income generation activities, providing vocational training and small scale livelihood projects as well as rehabilitation of irrigation canals.
"Japan has always been a major supporter of the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people and this contribution is just another indication of this. It also shows that the Government of Japan is committed to supporting long-term solutions for refugees who are returning home" said Mr. Peter Nicolaus, UNHCR's Representative in Afghanistan. "Led by the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), UNHCR's reintegration focus in 2012 seeks not only to improve the conditions of returnees, but also to provide a conducive environment for others to return."
Nearly three million registered Afghan refugees remain in exile in the region today, including nearly two million in Pakistan and one million in Iran. It is for them, as well as for those who have already returned but who have not been able to properly reintegrate into society, that MoRR has revised its reintegration response for returnees.
"Japan has set a high priority on the assistance addressing the urgent need of returnees and IDPs in Afghanistan. We highly appreciate the excellent work of UNHCR in our joint efforts to assist these people for reintegrating in the communities in their home country." said HE Reiichiro Takahashi, the Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan.
Since 2002, more than 4.6 million Afghans have been assisted home from Pakistan (3.7 million) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (900,000). But in recent years, there was a significant decline in repatriation, with 49,000 persons having returned from Pakistan and 19,000 persons from Iran last year. UNHCR believes that the main factors behind the decline in returns are Afghanistan's limited absorption capacity and challenging socio-economic issues such as landlessness, homelessness and access to jobs and basic services. It is hoped that the newly endorsed regional solutions strategy for Afghan refugees will help improve the situation for refugees, and encourage more to return home.
The Government of Japan is the largest contributor to UNHCR and its operations in Afghanistan. Since 2002 it has contributed more than USD 130 million to the repatriation and reintegration of returnees.
Returnees from Pakistan and Iran receive travel and initial reintegration assistance, currently averaging $150 per person. In Afghanistan, UNHCR helps them to settle in through activities that include returnee monitoring, shelter support and income-generating projects and the protection of vulnerable groups like women at risk. (PR)