Saturday November 5, 2016
Kabul (BNA) The government of Afghanistan reported on starting assistance process to undocumented returnees from Pakistan, adding the process has started in zero point of Torkham at the presence of Nangarhar governor.
Based on, an emergency plan has been provided by ministry of refugees and national and international organizations to returnees, distribution of the government assistances has been started in zero point of Torkham. At the same time, besides health services, providing potable water and holding awareness programs to returnees, 3350afg will be paid to each one of them from the government budget. Dr. Alema, deputy minister of refugees and Eng. Wali Hekmi, deputy refugees’ minister on financial and administrative affairs and advisor to the First Lady Office were among the delegation sent to Nangarhar, during which they exchanged view with province’s governor and local officials on transparency in distribution process. Ahmad Wali Hekmi, deputy minister of refugees on financial and administrative affairs told media that the documented returnees are being covered by UNHCR, but the undocumented ones will be assisted by IOM.
Calling the government assistances to returnees a need, Gulab Mangal, the governor of Nangarhar appreciated the government initiative and said, ‘to observe transparency in the distribution process of the cash assistances, a banking system is being used through which any returnees can receive his/her money.’ He clarified that the in-charges have been tasked to help the returnees receive their assisted money in official and unofficial days. While distribution of the assistances in Torkham, the Nangarhar governor said that the president have allocated 100mln afghani to returnees and any undocumented returnee will be paid 3350 afghani. Meanwhile, the deputy minister of refugees said, ‘10000 afghani will be paid to any family that have already returned from Pakistan and resided in eastern provinces.’ Najib Kamawal, head of public health department of eastern Nangarhar province said that beside other clinics, mobile clinics were operational in Torkham. One of the returnees, Shah Bibi while thanking for the assistances asked the government to provide them with settlement, she said as the winter approaches we will face serious problems if. It is to be mentioned that after Torkham, the assistance process will be started in Pishin Boldak, Islam Qala and Marz Milak as well.
Shukria Kohistani
