UNHCR intensifies outreach to refugees

UNHCR terms refugees, a sizeable number of which live in camps, as extremely prone or high risk

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that it has intensified its outreach to Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan.

In a statement on Friday, the UNHCR termed the refugees, a sizeable number of which live in camps, as extremely prone or high risk.

To help overcome this problem the UNHCR announced one-time mobile top-up cards worth Rs1,000 for each of the 2,200 outreach volunteers and some 800 community mobilizers which the UNCHR supports around the country. The move, UNHCR hopes, will strengthen effective digital communication with refugees.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2020.