Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The World Food Program (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), is distributing wheat provided by the government to returning Afghan refugees at the WFP hub in Peshawar.

The Secretary SAFRON, Muhammad Shehzad Arbab visited the site with WFP Head of Provincial Office, BaiMankay Sankoh where 800 Afghan refugee families are being assisted with 3 x 100 kg bags of wheat, sufficient to feed a family of six for approximately four months. The distribution is expected to be completed by November 30, 2016.

“WFP’s assistance to SAFRON will support transparent and rapid wheat distribution to Afghan families”, said BaiMankay Sankoh.

“WFP is working in close coordination with SAFRON to ensure the provision of sustainable food and nutrition security for Afghan refugees, in line with SDG2 and the Government of Pakistan’s vision 2025”, he added. Seven WFP technical staff members are at the distribution point in Peshawar, with the required facilities to ensure rapid online refugee registration and data verification process in accordance with UNHCR database.

“We are grateful to WFP for their assistance in distributing food,” thanked the Secretary SAFRON, adding Government is committed to facilitating a smooth process for the Afghan refugees as they return home.

The Additional Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Waqar Maroof, WFP Head of Provincial Office, BaiMankay Sankoh and representatives of government line departments were present at the first distribution which took place on November 15. “The Government of Pakistan is supporting the Afghan refugees as they return to Afghanistan”, said Waqar Maroof.

“The refugees are returning voluntarily and we would like to see them leave with ease and happiness”, he added. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan hosts the second largest refugee population, after Turkey, with over 1.5 million registered refugees in the country. WFP has been supporting Afghan refugees in Pakistan since 2001.

On the occasion an Afghan refugees Gul Bahadar told Daily Times that he is very happy to return his homeland Afghanistan. He further said that he spend more than thirty years in Pakistan and the people of Pakistan hosted them very warmly.

They will not forget the assistance of Pakistan government with Afghans people, he added. He also thanked the World Food Program (WFP) for assistance of Afghan refugees, adding that without the assistance of WFP and UNHCR it was not possible.