Joint statement from bafia director general ahmad mohammadifar and unhcr’s representative sivanka dhanapala commemorating 30 years of bafia/unhcr partnership in iran

AVA Diplomatic reports, It has been a partnership that has addressed a range of humanitarian crises involving Afghan and Iraqi refugees, helping them find safety and protection in Iran.  The story of refugees in Iran, however, is somewhat older. During the early 1980’s some 3 million Afghan refugees began fleeing over the border and in accordance with its Islamic values and in line with international norms the Government of Iran early on exerted considerable resources to provide infrastructure and essential services for these refugees. In addition, while contending with the Afghan crisis along its eastern border, many Iraqis crossed the western border in search of refuge in Iran following the outbreak of the Iraq-Iran War in the 1980’s.

In the early 1980’s, UNHCR sent several missions to coordinate with Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and agreed to officially open an office in the country in July 1984 and start a number of projects to provide assistance to complement the Government’s substantial efforts, coordinated through its “Bureau for Foreigners” under the Ministry of Interior which later changed its name to the “Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs” (BAFIA). Initially UNHCR and BAFIA focused their combined efforts on the urgent humanitarian needs of some 3 million Afghan refugees. Thereafter, in the early 1990’s this partnership mobilized further resources to address the needs of over a million Iraqis who fled across the border as a result of the Persian Gulf War.

Although hundreds of thousands of refugees have repatriated from Iran over the last ten years, Iran still hosts nearly one million refugees, primarily Afghans. This also represents one of the largest urban refugee populations worldwide. Throughout the years positive and active engagement of UNHCR in Iran has been a priority for successive High Commissioners, each recognizing the strategic and vital role Iran has been playing in assisting and hosting refugees.

At the capital and provincial levels, UNHCR and BAFIA have achieved a great deal over a span of three decades working towards durable solutions for refugees. Over the years, the partnership has focused on the essential needs of the refugees in education, health and livelihood, highlighting the importance of ensuring that refugees have adequate healthcare and the education and skills to earn a living upon returning to their country of origin, while also enabling them to contribute to society during their stay in Iran.

In commemoration of this enduring partnership, and in recognition of the continued importance of assisting refugees and ensuring their protection, previous Directors General of BAFIA and Representatives or Heads of Operation for UNHCR have shared their reflections and experiences in assisting refugees in Iran.

As UNHCR and BAFIA look to the future, there is cautious optimism that Afghan and Iraqi refugees in Iran wanting to return home are able to do so in a safe, dignified and sustainable manner. Undoubtedly, the skills and experiences will help them to contribute to the rebuilding of their homeland and achieve their goals and aspirations.