UNHCR concerned over deportation of Afghans

The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tajikistan has condemned the deportation of five Afghans on 15 November. "The Tajik government hasn't really given us a reason as to why they were deported and we are very concerned about this," senior protection officer, Aurvasi Patel, told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. The five men were sent back to the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif where two travelled on to the capital, Kabul and another to the northern Takhar province. "We interviewed the families of the deportees who told us that they had arrived at their homes in the various provinces," Patel explained. UNHCR learnt about the deportations from some Afghan refugees last weekend when between 30 and 40 were picked up by the Tajik police in Dushanbe. "One of those arrested was a minor and another had diabetes and was in need of medical care," she stressed. After negotiations between the refugee agency and local authorities, UNHCR was told that all the detainees would be released by mid week. However, since then they have discovered that only some of them were let out of prison. "We have sent a very strong letter to the concerned ministry who are following this up and will meet with them on Friday for further discussions," she added. Of major concern was the fact that one of those deported was a refugee who had received approval for resettlement in Canada. "This person should be brought back to Tajikistan immediately so he can move on for his resettlement in December," she said. The latest incident follows assurances from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that no more deportations of Afghans would occur following earlier instances. UNHCR had also expressed concern over nine deportations which took place on 15 September. The refugees, all men, were separated from their families a day earlier and detained by the Tajik authorities.