| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Another 1 million Afghan refugees are likely to return home by 2006 |
| 2005-02-19 |
| More than 1 million Afghan refugees are likely to return to Afghanistan in two years with prospects of improved security, but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, says planning should begin soon for those who wish to remain in Pakistan and Iran. Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday at a high-level meeting of officials from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, Lubbers expressed appreciation to donors for their assistance in the return of more than 3.5 million refugees to Afghanistan since a voluntary repatriation programme began in 2002 following the fall of the Taliban regime. He said at the meeting co-chaired by UNHCR and the European Commission that it is "absolutely crucial" that donor commitment to the Afghan returns remains high, saying that successful integration is a longer task. "Millions of Afghans have come back to help rebuild their country and we must continue to help them help themselves," he said... "In the area of security, we have seen improvements in the past few months. It is a step by step process, but slowly we are getting there," he said. Some donor countries said the situation in Afghanistan has improved enough that it has become possible to discuss a future transition from humanitarian assistance to development activities... Meanwhile, despite an intensive search, armchair academics have yet to locate a single example of the Afghani Quagmire, an unpleasant creature which they expected to find in great numbers, but which has not been seen since the Taliban were forced from power. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 that give ya a stiffie you had to rub off on a female underling? Ya piece of shit, Ruud |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-19 10:39:22 PM |
| #1 You're welcome Ruud. |
| Posted by: America 2005-02-19 9:31:29 PM |