IOM announces Tajik repatriation

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in coordination with UNHCR, on Monday repatriated 71 Tajik refugees from Turkmenistan, bringing the total number of organised returnees to 4,847 since the programme began in January 1998. The 71 returnees took a train on Monday from Turkmenabad and Mary, 500 km and 250 km east of the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat, where they then boarded a plane for the Tajik capital Dushanbe, the IOM announced. Acting regional representative for IOM in Islamabad, Richard Danziger, confirmed to IRIN on Thursday that the programme, which was temporarily stopped due to security and logistical concerns in May 1999, would end with Monday’s group. “This would be the last organised group repatriation within the framework of IOM’s programme for voluntary return of Tajik migrants currently residing in Turkmenistan.” he said. The programme, funded by the United States and Norway, had worked to return Tajik citizens in Turkmenistan back to their country after the Tajik civil war. With regard to Monday’s group and the programme in general, Danziger said “this is within the framework of peace and reconciliation in Tajikistan and IOM plans to provide further reintegration assistance to the returnees”.