§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the Overseas Development Administration's most recent monitoring mission to Afghanistan, what evidence they have to support their claim that refugees have returned as a result of the British aid programme.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyUNHCR indicate that in 1995 77,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan, assisted with repatriation packages consisting of cash and food. A further 92,000 refugees returned from Iran.
The projections for 1996 were that a further 30,000 refugees would be assisted in returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan and a further 30,000 would return from Iran with UNHCR help.
Upon return to Afghanistan, refugees have been assisted by the establishment of 400 quick impact projects funded by UNHCR in safe areas.
We are a major contributor to UNHCR and have responded to various appeals for Afghanistan. Since 1992 we have provided nearly £12 million for the work of the UNHCR in Afghanistan and a further £3.6 million to the International Red Cross. Additionally we have spent £11 million on a number of NGO projects in the same period for the benefit of Afghans generally.
It is our belief that the assistance provided contributes to the safe return of Afghans to their home country in an environment which enables them, with all the known difficulties, to re-establish their lives.