Afghanistan Delays Speedy Return of Refugees

Afghanistan’s interim government has delayed signing an agreement with Iran and the United Nations on the return of several hundred thousand refugees, just weeks before the scheduled start of a program of assisted repatriations.

However, the UN refugee agency says it is still hopeful that, with or without a former agreement, organized voluntary returns will begin next month. The three sides are proceeding on the basis that an estimated 400,000 Afghans could go back to their homeland from Iran within a year.

Relief workers suggested Kabul was concerned about the impact of a sudden influx of refugees, as well as Iran’s stated intention to deport Afghans who have refused to take part in its registration program.

Over the course of nearly two years, Iran has registered 2.35 million Afghans and estimates that several hundred thousand remain unregistered.

The representative of the UN High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR)in Iran said that they were preparing transport and relief supplies for the returnees in coordination with the Afghan government. He added that he did not expect Iran to carry out mass expulsions.

More than 100,000 Afghans have already left Iran before the start of the UN-assisted program.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees –Верховный комиссар ООН по делам беженцев

Task 9:

Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases.

Выдворенные (из страны); приток беженцев; оценивать/предполагать; переходное/временное правительство; откладывать; помощь(беженцам); беженец; производить/выполнять; влияние

Task 10:

Read the article again and express your agreement or disagreement with the following statements

Agreement: Yes, you are right/ It’s OK. I agree/ yes, it’s true

Disagreement/ I’m afraid, you are not quite right./ No, I can’t agree with you./ I’m sorry, but that’s wrong.

1) Afghanistan has signed an agreement with Iran and the UN on the return of its refugees.

2) The UN refugee agency says the return will begin next month.

3) The three sides estimate that about 200,000 people will be able to return home within a year.

4) Kabul is concerned about the relief workers acting in the country.

5) All Afghans living in Iran have been registered.

6) Iran is going to carry out mass expulsions from the country.

Task 11:

Read the text and look up the unknown words in the dictionary.