UNHCR voluntary repatriation of Afghans passes 2.7m mark
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The number of Afghans repatriating from Pakistan has passed the 2.7 million mark as the UN Refugee Agency's largest voluntary repatriation programme in the world continues to assist refugees to return to Afghanistan.
The UNHCR programme was launched in 2002 from Pakistan and Iran - the two main countries hosting Afghan refugees -- following the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which gave the chance for peace after more than 22 years of war that had forced millions of Afghans into exile.
Nearly 1.6 million Afghans returned from Pakistan in 2002, followed by some 340,000 in 2003 and more than 380,000 last year. UNHCR has repatriated over 415,000 Afghans so far in 2005. "This repatriation is the highest annual return since the introduction of Iris in 2003. It is very encouraging," said Indrika Ratwatte, Assistant Representative of UNHCR in Pakistan. "Of all solutions for refugees, returning to their homeland is the most desirable."
The UNHCR voluntary repatriation programme from Pakistan is governed by a Tripartite Agreement between the government of Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR. All parties agreed in principle to extend the agreement up till December 2006 pending the formal approval from the government of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Under the programme, Afghans wishing to return from Pakistan receive travel grants ranging between $4 and $37 per person, depending on the distance to the destination in Afghanistan, plus a $12 per capita grant to help them re-establish in their homeland.
UNHCR recently increased the travel assistance to 10% to facilitate returnee Afghans facing problems in transport fare increased due to constant fuel hike in Pakistan. All returnees over the age of six years are given iris recognition tests to ensure they have not previously received repatriation assistance.