Afghans returning home from Pakistan under the UN refugee agency's voluntary repatriation programme are informed that the facilitated return process will be suspended at the end of October for the usual winter break this year. It will resume in next year March 2009, says a press release issued here on Friday.
The last day for Afghans wishing to repatriate through the Baleli Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) in Quetta is Wednesday 29 October. The last day for repatriation through the Hayatabad VRC in Peshawar is Thursday 30 October. After these dates, returning Afghans should not approach the UNHCR VRCs in Baleli and Hayatabad until a further announcement early next year. UNHCR will re-start the voluntary repatriation of Afghans in Pakistan in March 2009.