Afghan voluntary repatriation resumes

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) sub office in Quetta said here on Wednesday that the UNHCR-assisted voluntary repatriation of registered Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) card had resumed since March 22, 2010.

“Registered Afghans, living in Pakistan, who choose to voluntarily repatriate with UNHCR assistance during the year can approach the Voluntary Repatriation Centres (VRCs) in Peshawar and Quetta,” said a UNHCR press release.

It said Afghans approaching the centre must bring their own and family members’ PoR cards along with two family group photos in colour. UNHCR will not process Afghans without PoR cards (PoR card is mandatory) and the photos.

Each returnee will get an average of US$100 per individual as one time assistance, to facilitate their return based on distances to their destination inside Afghanistan.

Iris verification for returnees aged five years and above is mandatory for UNHCR assistance. Returnee eyes will be scanned to confirm that they have not already received UNHCR repatriation assistance. No assistance is paid to returnees who have already availed the package previously.

The press release mentioned that registered Afghans were encouraged to check with UNHCR, if the centres were operational on their intended date of return at their given phone numbers. Voluntary Repatriation Centres will remain closed on public holidays, it notified.

“Registration of newborn babies is mandatory in order to receive the voluntary repatriation grant. Unregistered newborns will not be eligible to receive the voluntary repatriation assistance offered by UNHCR. To register a newborn, registered Afghans are encouraged to visit the nearest, Proof of Registration (PoR) Card Modification (PCM Centres) in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore and Haripur. In Balochistan newborn babies can be added at the Baleli Voluntary Repatriation Centre,” the UNHCR release added.

According to the UNHCR, PoR cards will be de-registered at the VRCs by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) before their departure for Afghanistan. Once your card is deregistered, you must leave as you will no longer have legal status to reside in Pakistan.

NWFP and Balochistan VRC (addresses and work schedule):

Chamkani Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) at Gul Abad, Chamkani (G.T. Road), near Chamkani Police Station located in Peshawar with office working hours from 08:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day except Fridays and Saturdays and returnees should make sure they reach Chamkani VRC before 12:00 noon, in order to be processed on the same day, if they reach after 12:00 than they will have to wait until next day.

Baleli VRC in Balochistan is located on the Quetta-Chaman road, with daily working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. except Thursdays and Fridays. On Sundays the time is from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.