Iran expresses concern over Afghan refugees

Addressing a UN commission on Afghan refugees in Geneva, Iranian Interior Minister Hojatoleslam Mustafa Pur-Mohammadi voiced his concern over the growing number of Afghan refugees in Iran and blamed insufficient international aid for Afghanistan for the decreasing rate of return of refugees to their homeland. Pur-Mohammadi added that Iran has taken action to inhibit criminal activities, such as human and drug- trafficking, related to Afghans' forced migration. In addition, through cooperation with the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the Iranian government has launched efforts to improve health conditions within the refugee community.

See RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 10, No. 187, Part III, 11 October 2006, here.