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Donors review UNHCR operations in Pakistan, pledge more support to the refugee
agency
A three-member delegation from “USA for UNHCR" -
www.usaforunhcr.org
-visited Pakistan to review the UN refugee agency’s work for Afghan refugees as
well as the people affected by the October 8, 2005 devastating earthquake that
killed more than 73,000.
USA for UNHCR, is a non-profit organization that builds support in the United
States for the humanitarian work of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The fund
contributes to UNHCR activities worldwide and raised US $544,283 to help with
its earthquake relief activities in Pa kistan.
Caryl Garcia, Executive Director of USA for UNHCR, Marcia Dam, a member of the
Board of Directors and Richard Marks visited Islamabad, Muzaffarabad in
Pakistan-Administered Kashmir as well as Mansehra, Attock and Peshawar in North
West Frontier Province.
In the earthquake hit areas, the delegation observed landslides in the Neelum
Valley near Muzaffarabad, visited relief camps and met with the population
displaced by the powerful earthquake.
UNHCR cared for more than 150,000 earthquake survivors placed in more than 150
camps across the affected area at the peak of the relief operations. Six months
on some 100,000 camp dwellers have returned to rebuild their homes.
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Caryl Garcia at the Garhi Habibullah relief camp school©
UNHCR/M. Farman-Farmaian |
A school in Garhi Habibullah relief
camp in Balakot conducted a drawing contest which received attention from the
visitors. The delegation handed out prizes and collected the drawings to take
back to the US for fund raising purposes.
The group, while reviewing UNHCR’s Afghan operation, met young Afghan women
enrolled in an income-generation skills training programme in Khurasan refugee
camp near Peshawar. One of members of
the delegation pledged to donate an ambulance to support female health services
and other emergency needs in the refugee camp,
Having a chance to visit UNHCR Iris Centre in Hayatabad Peshawar, the visitors
witnessed Afghan returnees aged six and above undergoing the iris test.
At a stopover in Attock, near the Indus River, the delegation visited an Afghan
carpet weaving factory which contributes 20% of its sales income to a nearby
school for refugee children.
Concluding its visit to Pakistan the delegation pledged more support for UNHCR
and its operations in Pakistan.
Richard Marks with boys from Central Plate camp
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UNHCR/M. Farman-Farmaian
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8 May 2006
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