OIC to Organize Conference on 'Refugees in Muslim World'
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will organize a two-day ministerial conference on 'Refugees in the Muslim World', in cooperation with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, beginning May 10.
In a statement, the OIC said the conference was aimed at highlighting the role of OIC host and donor member states in assisting protracted situation of large-scale refugee populations, as well as the mandate and responsibility of UNHCR towards refugees.
Apart from that, the conference would also aim to promote awareness of the scope and nature of the refugee problem in OIC-member states, as well as the broader refugee situation globally.
"It is particularly, to encourage the international community, including OIC member states, in promoting and creating condition for sustainable voluntary repatriation and reintegration in their country of origin," said the statement.
It also noted that the Muslim world hosted approximately 52 per cent of persons of concern to the UNHCR (comprising refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and stateless persons), which is the largest number in the world. "This figure does not include the Palestinian refugees, who fall within the specific mandate given by the United Nations General Assembly to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency," it said.
According to UNHCR statistics in 2010, there were approximately 17.76 million refugees in the Muslim world, with Iran and Pakistan hosting over 30 per cent of the world's refugee population, before the large-scale repatriation movements to Afghanistan commenced.
The report also said that refugees in Muslim countries stayed in refugee villages and urban areas, enjoyed a large degree of self-reliance and participation, rather than being confined to closed refugee camps which were normally in states close to their geographic area of origin that could accept and offer them shelter, as well as safety.
"Many other states are hosting immigrants originating from countries where, in view of prevailing insecurity, return is not feasible, thus offering them a sort of de facto asylum," it said.
Source: BERNAMA
Apart from that, the conference would also aim to promote awareness of the scope and nature of the refugee problem in OIC-member states, as well as the broader refugee situation globally.
"It is particularly, to encourage the international community, including OIC member states, in promoting and creating condition for sustainable voluntary repatriation and reintegration in their country of origin," said the statement.
It also noted that the Muslim world hosted approximately 52 per cent of persons of concern to the UNHCR (comprising refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and stateless persons), which is the largest number in the world. "This figure does not include the Palestinian refugees, who fall within the specific mandate given by the United Nations General Assembly to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency," it said.
According to UNHCR statistics in 2010, there were approximately 17.76 million refugees in the Muslim world, with Iran and Pakistan hosting over 30 per cent of the world's refugee population, before the large-scale repatriation movements to Afghanistan commenced.
The report also said that refugees in Muslim countries stayed in refugee villages and urban areas, enjoyed a large degree of self-reliance and participation, rather than being confined to closed refugee camps which were normally in states close to their geographic area of origin that could accept and offer them shelter, as well as safety.
"Many other states are hosting immigrants originating from countries where, in view of prevailing insecurity, return is not feasible, thus offering them a sort of de facto asylum," it said.
Source: BERNAMA
