Afghan refugees protest in Islamabad against UNHCR’s failure to review their cases

Dozens of Afghan migrants in Islamabad on Monday said they have protested for more than three weeks in front of the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) Office, however, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has not paid attention to the living conditions of migrants in this country so far.

The protestors claim that UNHCR Pakistan has failed to review their immigration cases, as they have not heard back from the UN refugee agency since they sought asylum.

The society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) Office operates to facilitate the registration process of migrants in Pakistan under the umbrella of UNHCR.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fearing their safety and that of their families moved to neighboring countries inkling Iran and Pakistan.

Some Afghan migrants registered asylum requests with the western countries’ embassies and the United Nations office in Pakistan, others entered the country through illegal channels.

These Afghan migrants are now facing serious issues in crisis-hit Pakistan. The growing inflation, high price of living, and worst of all, the uncertainty have overwhelmed them to a great extent.