The new representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to Pakistan Guenet Geubre-Christos has arrived here on Thursday to resume her duties prior to the initiation of voluntary repatriation programme 2004 for Afghan refugees.
Guebre-Christos, 55, has had a 22-year career with the UNHCR and prior to this assignment, she was regional representative with the UNHCR for the United States and the Caribbean in Washington.
Under a tripartite agreement with the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the UNHCR is assisting rehabilitation of Afghan refugees. The UNHCR has assisted some 1.9 million Afghan refugees in the first two years of the voluntary repatriation programme.
The repatriation programme for 2004 will start from next month.
The UNHCR estimates that there are still 1.1 million Afghan refugees in camps and an unknown but substantial number in other areas of Pakistan.
The UNHCR and the government of Pakistan are planning to carry out registration of Afghan refugees in Pakistan this year, which will provide a definitive total.
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