UN refugee head in Tehran to discuss Afghan crisis

With no imminent end in sight to the war in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ruud Lubbers, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with senior government officials and aid workers on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. During his discussions, he urged the Iranian government to open its borders in the event of a possible influx. Lubbers, who visited Pakistan prior to arriving in Iran, is in the region to highlight the plight of thousands of new Afghan refugees, as well as the state of preparedness on the ground in neighbouring countries for coping with them. Earlier, UNHCR announced a contingency plan to manage a worst-case scenario under which up to 400,000 asylum-seekers might attempt to cross into Iran to escape the effects of the US-led strikes on Afghanistan, which started on 7 October. "From the very beginning, we made a scenario of what could happen and it remains the same," Lubbers told IRIN. Having said that, however, the numbers were more limited than had been expected, he added. Asked to explain this, he maintained there were two possible perceptions of why more people had not made a move. The first was that Afghans, knowing the borders were closed, had chosen not to leave due to the great difficulties in doing so. The second was an anticipated change of regime which could prove more positive within the country. Moreover, in the beginning at least, the air strikes had been very focused and with little effect on civilians, which would certainly influence what people decided, he added. "Although this potential of 400,000 is still on the table, let’s prepare for 100,000," Lubbers said. He noted, however, that preparations had yet to be made. Although sites had been selected and some work had been done, including some practical steps such as provision of water, much more needed to be undertaken. "The reason we are concentrating on the 100,000 is we have the feeling this would accommodate our intention not to damage the policy of the government in such a fundamental way that it breaks down the cooperation and the policy of not having a flood of people, but at the same time to do a reasonable effort and labour in a reasonable way that those people really need," Lubbers said. During discussions with President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran, the High Commissioner acknowledged Iran’s security concerns relating to a possible influx of Afghan refugees, but urged greater flexibility on the border issue. The president, however, reiterated Iran’s insistence that Afghans be helped in camps on the Afghan side of the border. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday evening, Lubbers rejected this idea. "In my discussions, I made it clear that I sincerely doubt that permanent camps there are a good idea," he said. "As I said earlier, it’s simply not safe there: they are not under the control of the Iranian authorities." Asked what message he had for Afghans living near the border with Iran, Lubbers said: "Think twice before you go to Iran. Think twice of other alternatives." He added that if they could get assistance where they were, could go back to where they were from, or could see any possibility to survive – they should not come. He added, however, that if they were traumatised due to bombing or loss of family members, and they chose to take a chance and come to Iran, they should report to UNHCR at the border, and it would do its utmost.