United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has informed registered Afghan refugees that the voluntary repatriation operation from Pakistan to Afghanistan is a continuing process under tripartite agreement made between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has rejected the statements regarding the voluntary return of Afghan refugees and stated that the repatriation of the registered Afghans will remain continue. There is no reality in statement that 2008 is the last year for Afghan voluntary returns which is completely false and baseless, said in a statement issued here on Friday.
Registered Afghan refugees who wish to return their homes can approach the UNHCR's Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) in Peshawar and Quetta in a gradual and orderly manner to avoid congesting the VRCs, the statement reads.
UNHCR's Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) in Hayatabad, Peshawar is resuming work on July 6, according to its weekly schedule. The UNHCR-sponsored voluntary repatriation of Afghans through Peshawar was temporarily suspended last week due to maintenance reasons.
The Hayatabad VRC is located behind the 'Police Chowki' second-turn, Phase 5 Hayatabad, Peshawar with office working hours from 7am to 3:30 pm every day except Fridays and Saturdays.
Baleli VRC in Balochistan is located on the Quetta-Chaman road with daily working hours from 8am to 3:30 pm except Thursdays and Fridays. Afghans, above the age of five, are required to go through an iris test to ascertain that they have not been through the process before. A luggage check is also mandatory to verify the genuine intention to return.