IRNA: Iranian authorities set up refugee organization due to rise in Afghan refugees
Photo: Reuters
The Iranian authorities are planning to create an organization for refugees in the country due to the sharp surge of migrants from Afghanistan. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the Iranian agency IRNA.
“The creation of an organization that will solve the problems of millions of migrants is on the government's agenda,” said Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. He explained that the department, in particular, will help Afghan refugees who live in the republic and especially in the province of Fars in the south.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 780,000 refugees from Afghanistan now live in Iran, while in 2021 alone, about half a million refugees arrived in the countries. In addition, more than 2.2 million Afghans are in the country illegally. Refugees in Iran were given access to health care, education and work.
In November, it was reported that hundreds of Afghans pretended to be journalists in order to leave the country following a seizure of power by militants of the radical Taliban (a terrorist organization banned in Russia). During the evacuation of Western forces, a number of non-media organizations reportedly added their employees, as well as their relatives and friends, to the lists disguised as journalists. This allowed the Afghans to obtain the necessary documents faster and travel abroad.
