It’s been more than 40 years since Afghans began fleeing violence, war, conflict and natural disasters. Millions of those displaced have suffered deeply and continue to do so. UNHCR is calling on the world not to let hope fade for them.
Recently, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan attended a two-day Refugee Summit in Islamabad to send a global reminder about the fate of Afghan refugees to seek solidarity for their situation.
Recently, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan attended a two-day Refugee Summit in Islamabad to send a global reminder about the fate of Afghan refugees to seek solidarity for their situation.
Nadia, born a refugee and whose parents fled Afghanistan due to the Soviet invasion 40 years ago, is one of the shining samples benefitting from Pakistan’s generosity. Meeting our High Commissioner when he visited Balochistan ahead of the conference, Nadia told him about her high school, as well as the computer classes she takes at Safe from the Start, a programme for women and girls supported by UNHCR.
She knows her path will be challenging, as a refugee and as a woman, but she doesn’t scare easily. For Nadia, the idea of settling down in Afghanistan is never far from her thoughts. “If peace comes, there is no more beautiful place than your own country.”
For years, Afghan refugees like Mohammad had no access to Pakistan’s banking system. A spice seller in a local market, he was forced to rely on friends to cash cheques and keep his money safe. Since the law changed last year to let Afghan refugees open bank accounts, business is booming.
“Before, I dealt in cash only,” Mohammad says. “Money is safe [now in an account]. It has helped us.”
About UNHCR:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee issues. It strives to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to voluntarily return home when conditions are conducive for return, integrate locally or resettle to a third country. UNHCR has twice won the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1954 for its ground-breaking work in helping the refugees of Europe, and in 1981 for its worldwide assistance to refugees.
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