Italy gives UN €1.5m to support Afghans living in Iran

KABUL (Pajhwok): Italy has contributed €1.5 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in support of the Afghans living in Iran.

The Tehran Times quoted the Italian ambassador to Iran as underlining support for the Afghans fleeing their homeland.

Giuseppe Perrone said: ““It is a tangible sign of the existing strong solidarity between Iran and Italy in line with our deep historical bonds.”

Ivo Freijsen, the UNHCR representative, welcomed Italy’s contribution to its humanitarian efforts at a time when the needs and vulnerabilities of Afghans in Iran were growing.

Italy’s support would help the UN agency provide essential life-saving aid to asylum-seekers, hoped Freijsen.

The newspaper reported up to 300,000 Afghans had fled to Iran this year in quest of safety. The UNHCR has screened about 24,000 new arrivals for protection needs.

Iran was hosting around 3.5 million Afghans and providing them with education and health services even before the recent developments in Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud