Afghan Refugee Crisis: UN to Host 4-Way Meeting

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi

Speaking to IRNA on Tuesday evening, June 21, Grandi said the UN will host the meeting, with the participation of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the European Union (EU).

The meeting, he said, will review solutions to permanently solve problems the Afghan refugees have been facing. No time and venue have been set for the meeting yet, he added.

The question should be solved through dialogue between Afghan officials and those countries which have accepted most Afghan refugees, Grandi said. He said the UNHCR will also offer its due aid.

The Afghan government has taken good steps towards encouraging its nationals back home, he added. Coincident with World Refugee Day on June 20, Grandi travelled to Afghanistan and met with top officials including President Ashraf Ghani.

At a press conference in Afghanistan, he elaborated on the objectives of his visit, saying the UNHCR plans to attract the attention of the global community to the issue of Afghan refugees.

About seven millions of Afghan people have moved to different world countries living there as refugees. Nearly 3m of them are in Pakistan, and about 2.5m in Iran. The rest are living in European countries.

Insecurity and unemployment are underscored as two major reasons forcing Afghan nationals to leave their own country.