UNHCR resumes screening of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has resumed the joint screening of thousands of Afghans in northwest Pakistan, following a meeting with senior Pakistani officials to address the deportation of several families last week, a spokesman for the agency said today.

According to spokesman Ron Redmond, the Secretary in the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas and States and Frontiers Regions (SAFRON), Shafqat Ezdi Shah, reiterated Pakistan's full commitment to the screening agreement, and assured UNHCR that no deportations would take place during the screening process.

UNHCR had suspended the screening exercise last Friday after 28 Afghan families from Jalozai were deported to Afghanistan by the provincial authorities earlier in the week. Among those deported were women, infants, elderly people and unaccompanied children.

"The SAFRON officials expressed humanitarian concerns about the deported families, especially the unaccompanied minors," Mr. Redmond said. "UNHCR plans to hold further discussions with the Pakistani authorities on the fate of the deported families this week."

Over 100,000 Afghans have been pre-screened since the process started on 6 August. The second phase of screening began on 29 August.