Rud Lubers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, departed yesterday for a visit to Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to monitor the progress of the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland. A spokesperson for the United Nations stated that Mr. Lubers intends to meet with Mr. Mohammad Khatami, the President of Iran, and then with Hamid Karzai, the interim Prime Minister of Afghanistan. United Nations officials report that since the start of the repatriation program for Afghan refugees six weeks ago, over 200,000 of the more than three and a half million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from Iran and Pakistan.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Visits Iran - 2002-04-13
Rud Lubers, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is visiting Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to oversee the repatriation of Afghan refugees. He plans to meet with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Afghan interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. This visit is significant as it highlights the ongoing efforts to address the refugee crisis in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Rud Lubers visited Iran to monitor the repatriation of Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan. He met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai during his trip.
- Over 200,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan since the start of the repatriation program.
- The visit highlights the UN's role in addressing the refugee crisis in the region.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Afghanistan has faced decades of conflict, leading to millions of refugees, many of whom have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Iran and Pakistan. The UN has been actively involved in repatriation efforts.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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