Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Fides Service) - There are still Afghan refugees in the Pakistan province North West Frontier on the border with Afghanistan, an area in the eye of international attention at the moment because it is here that Pakistan army and US troops are searching for Al Qaeda terrorists and militants.
Overcoming many difficulties international agencies and Catholic religious communities are providing assistance for the refugees. One good result was the closing a few days ago of Shalman, refugee camp after the last residents had been repatriated.
A total number of 9,000 refugees have been transferred, a good number returned Afghanistan and the rest have been settled in another camp in Pakistan. The closing of Shalman camp is the first step in a two year programme to reduce the number of camps. More than 4,000 refugees from Shalman camp chose to return to Afghanistan, after living two years in the arid valley near Khyber Pass. However 4,800 Afghans opted to stay and agreed to move to another camp in a less impervious part of Pakistan. Transfer operations started on March 7 and concluded without difficulties two days earlier than estimated.
To improve assistance to refugees, other camps of the 15 set up for Afghan refugees in Balochistan and North West Frontier Provinces will be closed. UNHCR, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees is presently meeting with Pakistan government officials to discuss details with regard closure of camps and hopes complete more transfer operations in the coming months.
Afghan refugees in Quetta are assisted by Salesian Fathers. Quetta is only 100 km from the Afghan border and thousands of refugees pour continually into the area. The Salesians run a parish in Quetta and besides providing spiritual care for about 1200 Catholic families, they assist many other people. They have a Youth Centre for boys and many of the youngsters are Uzbeks. Besides running a school for 120 young Uzbeks, the Salesians also have separate Learning Centres for various ethnic groups: Afghans, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Tajiks. Thanks to funds provided by Misereor, the charity agency of the German Bishops’ Conference, Salesians in Pakistan are able to run these three centres helping altogether 1800 young boys and they pay 50 teachers.
In 2002 and 2003, about 1.9 million Afghans left Pakistan to return home. This year about 400,000 Afghans are expected to return to their country, since the beginning of the year the first 10,000 have been repatriated.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/3/2004 lines 13 words 134)
