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Afghanistan: UNHCR fears increase in displaced persons and refugees

High Representative for Refugees Filippo Grady told the UN Security Council today that he feared an increase in the number of displaced people in Afghanistan and refugees in neighboring countries, adding that he would soon visit Iran to discuss the issue.

Due to the economic crisis in Afghanistan, “we risk recording an explosion that will cause an influx of people inside the country, “but also abroad, who will be looking for better living conditions,” he told reporters after the council meeting via video link from Geneva.

«It’s something that can still be avoided at this stage, this requires faster action on the establishment of mechanisms to ensure the functioning of the economy, to secure cash and to secure services. “

“It simply came to our notice then. In fact, I will go to Iran myself in a few days and we will have talks with the Iranian leadership on this issue “, added Filippo Gradi, without going into details.

The displaced Afghans are estimated at 3.5 million

His services put the number of displaced Afghans at 3.5 million in Afghanistan today, many of whom were forced to flee their homes before the Taliban came to power in mid-August because of the war.

His official UN pointed out that he is not in a position to provide information on the new influx of displaced persons and refugees that are expected, stressing that he has only been informed about some population movements.

For more than forty years, many Afghans have fled their country to escape war and job shortages in order to seek refuge in western Iran. Despite the dangers of famine in their own country, Iran has recently, until recently, deported tens of thousands of Afghans each week, including people who had settled on Iranian soil for years.

According to the HCR, in 2020 there were more than 3.4 million Afghans in Iran, of which almost 2 million were undocumented and 800,000 refugees.

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