IOM is to start construction of a reception and transit centre in
Kabul for some of the thousands of Afghans returning to Afghanistan
from abroad every year.

The guesthouse, which will be located in the Jangalak compound
of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MORR), will comprise
19 flexible rooms housing up to 76 people at any one time.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the building, which will be funded
by the United Kingdom, is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday). The
project is scheduled for completion in May 2010.

Afghans represent the largest group of refugees in the world.
The direct impact of war and violence in Afghanistan over the last
30 years has been the massive displacement of its people to
neighboring countries in Pakistan, Iran and beyond.

The guesthouse, which will be managed by the MORR, will
substantially increase the capacity of the Government of
Afghanistan to address returnees’ needs and contribute
towards their successful reintegration.

Since the fall of the Taleban government in 2001, more than 4.3
million refugees have voluntarily returned to Afghanistan.

For more information please contact:

Bogdan Danila

IOM Kabul

E-mail: "mailto:bdanila@iom.int">bdanila@iom.int

Tel. +93.700.224.863