DUSHANBE, September 27, 2012, Asia-Plus — The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has offered Tajikistan to set up a core group up to discuss threats and challenges that may arise during providing shelter and support for refugees.
Mr. Saber Azam, UNHCR Regional Representative/Regional Coordinator in Central Asia, remarked this at a press conference in Dushanbe on September 27.
The press conference, conducted within the framework of the visit of Mr. Saber Azam to Tajikistan, was devoted to discussion of High Level forum on emergencies and meetings with Tajikistan high level government officials.
The UNHCR regional representative/regional coordinator noted that the group could work with UNHCR, the OSCE and other partners to implement preparedness activities in the national, cross-border and regional context.
According to him, the UNHCR has also expressed readiness to assist Tajikistan with creating a modern database for registration that will give the Tajik government an opportunity to be in contact with partners on the refugees’ issues. This system will also improve exchange of information between the interested sides, Azam added.
During his stay in Tajikistan, Saber Azam met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan and other high ranking officials as well as diplomatic community in Dushanbe. Discussions included topics such as mixed migration, transferring of a special database for registration to the Government of Tajikistan, accession to the Statelessness Conventions and Emergency Preparedness Response.
He also participated in High Level forum on Border Management in Humanitarian Emergencies in Dushanbe. The UNHCR regional representative/regional coordinator highly appraised the forum’s work.
Saber Azam also noted that the next conference would be held at ministerial level in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Tajikistan’s representatives are also expected to attend that conference and issues related to providing the government of Tajikistan with necessary means for solving the mixed migration issues.
Speaking a the conference, Mr. Jose Euceda, UNHCR Country Representative Tajikistan, noted that 400 asylum seekers have arrived in Tajikistan this year. “Legal aid and consultations have been provided to all of them,” Mr. Euceda said.
He also noted that all refugees living in Tajikistan were reregistered last year. Currently 4,000 people having the status of refugee live in Tajikistan (the majority of them are citizens of Afghanistan). Besides, 600 other people who have lodged refugee status applications are currently waiting for response to their applications, the UNHCR country representative said.
