Third of Afghan refugee families in camps near Peshawar seek repatriation

GENEVA, Aug 28 (AFP) - Nearly a third of 21,000 Afghan refugee families in camps near Peshawar in Pakistan want to be repatriated, according to the results of an enquiry, the United Nations refugee agency said here Tuesday.

It said 6,465 families had opted for voluntary repatriation, while 14,564 wanted to stay in Pakistan.

Thousands of Afghans who have fled fighting and drought in their country since last September are housed at camps at Jalozai and Nasir Bagh near Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says returning refugees will receive repatriation aid. The 21,000 families totalling some 60,000 people responded to a joint census conducted by the UNHCR and Pakistani authorities in order to determine their status.

Those who have decided against repatriation were due Wednesday to begin a new round of interviews with officials to determine whether they should be accorded the right to temporary residence in Pakistan.