TEHRAN – A meeting of local core groups on solutions strategies for Afghan refugees (SSARs) was held in Tehran on Wednesday, September 3rd.
The ISNA reported that he is the head of Nader Yar-Ahmadi, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat and Nader Yar-Ahmadi, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat.
As head of the SSAR group, he was the Dutch Charge Dai Festival to Iran. Stephen Pleenor, United Nations Residential Coordinator in Iran. Representatives from various international organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as representatives from embassies of participants in Germany, Italy, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Turkey, Swarry and South Korea.
Working on the conference, Yal Ahmadi said Iran has been hosting Afghan refugees for almost 50 years, including a massive wave of Afghan migration in recent years. However, the contributions of the international community, Western countries, and SSAR members are inadequate and ineffective.
Hassani Nejad Pilkowhi highlighted the country’s unparalleled humanitarian measures, particularly when hosting refugees, saying that the international community, including European countries, does not fulfill its international commitment and responsibility under international refugee law. They have negatively affected the conditions by adopting a political and selective approach, imposing unilateral sanctions and enforcement measures against the government and Iranian people.
Representatives of international organizations, such as representatives of UN residents, detailed the notable actions the country took in dealing with the numerous refugees living in Iran.
During the meeting, UNHCR representatives proposed to hold trilateral consultations between Iran and Afghanistan. Iranian officials have expressed their readiness to hold talks on Pakistan’s existence and quadrilateral talks, stressing that greater coordination is needed for the trilateral talks.
The Afghan Refugees (SSAR) Solution Strategy was drafted in 2012 by Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, with support from UNHCR. This strategy advances local approaches to solutions and promotes refugee burdens and shared responsibility at both regional and global levels.
SSAR emphasizes strengthening resilience and coexistence with host communities in Afghanistan, and advocating for more equitable shared responsibility by the international community in line with the Global Compact of Refugees (GCR). So far, the host community has been supported by local blueprints for governments, international organizations and other stakeholders, allowing refugees to live productive lives.
In Iran, local core groups for the SSAR support platform were established in April 2021 in line with deliberations with core groups with the governments of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
In 2022, UNHCR organized the European Union-chaired Virtual SSAR Support Platform Conference in front of core group members and other donors, UN agencies, INGOs and the Iranian government to better identify the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and host communities.
At the end of 2022, Iran held the 8th meeting of the SSAR Quadripartite Steering Committee, discussing progress, challenges and future progress in implementing solutions strategies for Afghan refugees, highlighting Iran’s generous and inclusive hospitals to Afghan people over the years.
In 2024, the group focused on protecting all Afghans in Iran and maintaining and expanding asylum spaces, further strengthening its comprehensive policy and promoting independent and durable solutions.
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