Steps taken to facilitate return of Afghans in Ukraine: MoRR

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) says the Afghan government has taken steps to address problems of Afghans stranded in Ukraine.

Mohammad ArsalaKharoti, deputy refugees and repatriation minister, addressing a press conference here said that there are about three million IDPs inside the country and seven million refugees abroad.

Without giving details about the number of Afghan refugees in Ukraine, he said the Afghan government had made some efforts to protect Afghans living in Ukraine.

"Based on information Afghans living in Ukraine have not faced any particular problems so far, and it is a good opportunity for them to return to the country, the government will help them if they want so," he said.

He said that thousands of Afghans who had been displaced as a result of past conflicts and bombardments had returned to their areas.

Kharoti said food and non-food items were distributed to three million IDPs in the capital and provinces by donor countries and international organizations.

He added that there are about three million internally displaced people in the country, including 250,000 families who have been repatriated to their original areas and provided with essential assistance.

After the fall of the previous regime, around 550,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan mostly from Iran, Pakistan and other countries, he said.

He said there are three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, three million in Iran and one million in other countries which totals seven million Afghans living abroad.

He stressed that the Ministry of Refugees is working to solve the problems of migrants and facilitate their return to the country.

He also said that a delegation had traveled to Iran to solve the problems of Afghan refugees and met with Iranian officials on the regard.

mds/ma