UNHCR Representative In Iran Meets Kerman BAFIA DG

On 3rd of September 2014 Sivanka Dhanapala, UNHCR Representative in Iran Fathia Adballa, UNHCR Deputy Representative UNHCR, Guiseppe Di Caro, Head of Sub-office Kerman and officials from Kerman Bureau for Aliens & Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA) visited various projects (medical center, delivery room and school) in Dasht-e Zahmatkeshan of Kerman, AVA Diplomatic reports.Following this visit they met with Hamid Shamseddini, BAFIA DG Kerman.

Whilst welcoming the guests Mr. Shamseddini referred to the hospitality of the peoples of Iran and specially the people of Kerman and how they have been host to a large number of Afghan nationals always treating them as guests.

He said, “It is stated in our religion that if you hear someone’s cry for help and you can help him and you refrain from doing so, then you are not a Muslim. It is based on this humanitarian outlook that we have been. However, their presence has cost us vastly.”

Shamseddini thanked Di Caro and his colleagues for their constant cooperation with BAFIA and asked Sivanka Dhanapala that he be Iran’s ambassador when visiting other countries and the in international community; helping Iran to make its voice heard.

He added 10 percent of the Kerman’s population are Afghans accordingly inflicting many costs on the country in both economic and social aspects. He said this is people’s request that solutions be found towards the regularization and repatriation of refugees back home.

Sivanka Dhanapala acknowledged Kerman for things done in the province, especially in the fields of education and health and added, “I proudly accept to be Iran’s ambassador in the international community. I said in Geneva that the story of refugees in Iran has not been told to the world, but I will do this. We try to attract further international aid in line with supporting Iran.”

He added, “I will eagerly talk about problems in Kerman, but I need the necessary tools to do so and that is “data”, this will help us with our fundraising”.

Shamseddini also referred to Minister of Interior Affair speech in his recent visit to Kerman and said, “With Sistan/Baluchestan and Hormozgan as no-go areas, Kerman is the front line. Presence of foreign nationals in Kerman is intertwined with human and drug trafficking so we must have special consideration about Kerman.”

He said “With the help of Kerman BAFIA office and in line with supporting Kerman, we will try to prepare and send you an information package about problems regarding foreign nationals’ presence in Kerman.”

Sivanka Dhanpala said, “In order to become more familiar with foreign national problems in Iran, I will travel with Dr. Kazemi (BAFIA DG) to border cities so we can analyze the problems closely and thus be better enabled to defend Iran with more information.” He pointed that during a mission to Khorasan Razavi, ambassadors of different countries were impressed by BAFIA and UNHCR work and added the next mission would certainly be to Kerman.

 Shamseddini added, “Till infrastructures are not prepared in Afghanistan and refugees are not empowered in their country we will witness to such problems and migrations.”

Shamseddini thanked Dhanapala and his delegation for visiting Kerman. After getting confirmation from Kerman’s Radio and TV Broadcasting, a reportage about Sivanka Dhanapala’s visit to Kerman and about the refugee situation in Kerman was recorded to be shown at Kerman’s provincial TV channel.