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UNHCR Afghan voluntary repatriation starts 1 March

February 22, 2006

ISLAMABAD, 22 Feb (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency on 1 March will resume its voluntary repatriation programme to assist Afghans wishing to return from Pakistan to Afghanistan, using offices in key cities and mobile teams. 2006 is the last year of the current Tripartite Agreement governing voluntary repatriation.

Regardless of which city they start from, all returning Afghans over the age of six years will pass through the Iris Verification Centers (IVC) in Peshawar and Quetta to ensure they have not previously gone through the centers and received assistance.

Afghans in cities other than Peshawar and Quetta will go to local centers listed below where they will be registered before proceeding through the IVCs.

Afghans in Peshawar will directly approach the UNHCR Iris Validation/Departure Centre in Hayatabad.

Afghans in Quetta will go first to the Registration Centers before proceeding to the UNHCR Iris Validation Centre in Baleli. Addresses are printed below.

Refugees in camps wishing to repatriate will notify UNHCR field staff or the Refugee Village Administrator (RVA) working for the Commissionerate of Refugees (CAR), after which they will be registered. They will then proceed to the IVC.

Instructions for all refugees wishing to repatriate:

Every returning family must present a recent family photo (all faces should be clear) which will be verified by UNHCR staff.

All family members over the age of 6 years must go through the iris recognition process to receive UNHCR returnee assistance.

Returnees can bring only their actual belongings back to Afghanistan. Those who wish to take equipment/goods for income-generation purposes must obtain approval from CAR.

Camp-based refugees must dismantle their houses before departure.

UNHCR will give each returning Afghans US$4 to US$37 cash assistance - depending on their length of destination to help with transportation cost - and regardless of age, US$12 to assist with short-term needs upon arrival in Afghanistan. The cash grant will be given to returning refugees at the appropriate encashment center inside Afghanistan.

Office locations:

Peshawar

Afghans from urban areas should approach the Iris Validation Center and Departure Center in Hayatabad, open Sundays through Thursdays, 07:00 to 15:30.

Karachi

Refugees should approach the pre-registration centers located in Songal (covering Camp Jadeed), Indus Plaza (covering Sohrab Goth), Landhi (covering Landhi, Korangi and Drigh Colony areas) and at the Registration Center in Banaras (covering Metroville, Orangi, Lyari areas). They operate Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 14:00 and 09:00 to 12:00 on Friday. Mobile teams will handle pre-registration in Metroville, Ittehand Colony, Orangi and Malir areas.

VRFs, which must be obtained before leaving Karachi, will be issued only at Songal and by mobile teams. Departures for the Torkham border - stopping in Peshawar for iris checks - will be on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Departures toward the Chaman border - stopping in Quetta for the iris checks - will be on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Quetta

Afghans should go to the UNHCR Scheduling Center at Sabzal Road and Ghousabad. They are open Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 14:30 and on Friday from 08:30 to 11:30. The Iris Validation Center and Departure Center in Baleli on Quetta-Chaman Road is open Monday to Wednesday from 08:30 to 14:30, Saturday from 08:30 to 14:30 and on Sunday from 08:30 to 11:30.

Afghans in Pishin district should go to the Saudi Hospital situated in Old Saranan for verification, registration, iris testing, validation and departure. They are open on Monday from 09:00 to 14:00 for registration, iris testing, validation and departure, and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 09:00 to 14:00 for scheduling of departures.

Afghans from Mohammad Kheil Camp should go to the UNHCR Field Unit on every second Thursday (starting from 9 March) from 09:30 to 14:00 for scheduling of departures.

UNHCR also has field units in Loralai and Dalbandin. The one at Loralai is open on Monday and Tuesday from 08:30 to 15:30 for scheduling of departures, verification and registration. The UNHCR field unit at Dalbandin is open from Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 15:30 and on Friday from 08:30 to 1200 for scheduling of departures.

Islamabad

Afghans wishing to repatriate from Punjab should approach the Registration Centre on the main GT Road, Dhok Paracha Stop (between Tarnol & Sangani). They will be given a date for verification, registration and departure for the IVC in Peshawar.

Attock

Afghans should go to the Registration Centre, Peoples Colony, to tell UNHCR they wish to repatriate. A date will be set for obtaining the VRF and proceeding to the IVC in Peshawar.