A number of new repatriation operations were also launched, including the organized repatriation of Liberian refugees and the repatriation of Congolese refugees from the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo.

In Sierra Leone, the repatriation of refugees has come to an end.

Despite the UNHCR target of facilitating the voluntary repatriation of 35,000 Eritrean refugees, less than 10,000 refugees actually repatriated in 2004.

Zambia itself currently hosted some 200,000 refugees and was actively involved in the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Angola and Rwanda.

UNHCR continues to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees from other parts of the subregion.

The focus on voluntary repatriation for refugees and return of IDPs continued throughout the reporting period, with 330,000 African refugees returning home in 2004.

Since the last report, several repatriation operations have been completed, including those for Sierra Leonean refugees and Somali refugees (from Somaliland ) in Ethiopia.

The current insecurity in the region had postponed the organized repatriation from Burundi of some 1,000 Congolese refugees.

It is hoped that organized repatriation of Sudanese refugees to southern Sudan will start in the coming months.

In Africa, large scale repatriation of refugees has been ongoing in Sierra Leone, Angola, Burundi, Eritrea and Liberia.

The operation to support the repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees launched in 2001 was concluded in December 2004.

The care and maintenance programme for Liberian refugees has continued, along with voluntary repatriation to Liberia.

Inter agency meeting (Mashhad city, Iran October 2002 present weekly hosted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)) to share information on repatriation of Afghan refugees.

We also took note of several encouraging developments in that continent, allowing the voluntary repatriation of sizeable numbers of refugees.

Owing to large repatriation movements, 2005 had begun with the smallest number of refugees in almost a quarter century.

Voluntary repatriation continued to make considerable progress and remained the preferred durable solution for refugees in Africa.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) intends to accelerate the voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees after the October elections, once the rains have subsided.

The assisted repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees that started in 2000 ended on 31 December 2004, bringing more than 270,000 refugees back home, nearly 180,000 with UNHCR assistance.

UNHCR works alongside the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in providing assistance and facilitating solutions to refugees, returnees and IDPs with the support of many other international and national actors.

In West Africa, for instance, the voluntary repatriation operation for Sierra Leonean refugees ended in July 2004, some 270,000 refugees having returned over the preceding four years.

In addition to providing international protection and material assistance to Congolese and Burundian refugees, UNHCR has been promoting the repatriation of Rwandan refugees and monitoring their reintegration in local communities.

Efforts were also under way to revive the Tripartite Commission on voluntary repatriation of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was currently involved in two major voluntary repatriation operations involving Burundian and Congolese refugees but was concerned that the Burundian repatriation might be reduced or suspended altogether if funds were not provided.

With respect to Iraqi refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran, she noted that their assisted voluntary repatriation was a matter of urgency.

In 2005, the focus of UNHCR efforts will be on facilitating the repatriation of some 14,000 Liberian refugees who are expected to return.

More than 1.5 million refugees were aided in their voluntary repatriation last year, 35 per cent more than in 2003.

The World Food Programme is providing food to the refugees in all camps and in transit way stations during repatriation.

The launch of the Tripartite Commission on voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees in 2001 demonstrated the commitment of her Government to solving the problem.

The Government thus fully supported the activities of international organizations within Myanmar aimed at creating an environment conducive to the voluntary repatriation of refugees.

It was in that context that operations in the subregion, which hosts more than 1.2 million refugees, focused on voluntary repatriation.

The voluntary repatriation program is organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission.

UNHCR had facilitated the repatriation of more than 38,000 Liberian refugees and provided material assistance and transportation for the return of 200,000 internally displaced persons.

Other consultations with UNHCR had been encouraged regarding the needs for a tripartite agreement for the repatriation of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bearing in mind the importance of the voluntary and sustainable repatriation and reintegration of the Afghan refugees and displaced people to their homeland and place of origin

Despite the financial and logistical constraints involved, his Government remained committed to the voluntary repatriation programme for Eritrean refugees living in the Sudan.

Since 2003, the Government of Zambia had primarily been preoccupied with voluntary repatriation of Angolan and Rwandan refugees. The previous year, approximately 18,000 Angolan refugees, out of a planned 20,000, had been moved 43,500 had returned home in 2004.

We earnestly hope that the new conditions in Afghanistan will facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees to their home country in a more promising manner.

This has provided large groups of African refugees with a unique opportunity for voluntary repatriation, which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continued this year to place at the top of its agenda in Africa.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was a success story, as demonstrated by the repatriation of one million refugees he was proud that his organization had been part of that success.

1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues to be a matter of concern

1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of concern

Repatriation

More specifically, in line with repatriation movements during earlier years, the largest number of refugees returned to Afghanistan from the Islamic Republic of Iran (515,000) and from Pakistan (424,500).

Indonesia expressed its appreciation to UNHCR for its assistance in facilitating the repatriation of some 252,000 refugees in West Timor province to Timor Leste in 2002 and 2003.

As many as 550,000 refugees are expected to return in the coming months from neighbouring countries where they are being registered by UNHCR for organized repatriation.