In his speech, Mohammadifar underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran as a country hosting a huge population of refugees has provided generously a wide range of services to the refugees living in the country.
At present, he noted, 18600 refugees are engaged in education through the assistance provided by the "Literacy Movement Organization of Iran" and also 3800 refugees are continuing their education in cooperation with UNHCR office in Iran.
The full text of Rahmani Fazli’s speech to the UN meeting follows:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to extend my appreciation to you, as the chairman of this meeting and wish you every success on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a country hosting a huge population of refugees. I have high hopes on the contribution of this very event to the alleviation of sufferings of refugees, so that further proper grounds for safe and durable return of refugees to their homeland could be facilitated.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Having hosted a huge population of refugees for many years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided generously a wide range of services to them, including in education sector from elementary to higher education, as well as free-charge health services like vaccination, maternal-child cares, individual health, environmental health and prevention of epidemic and refractory diseases.
In the current academic year around 360/000 refugee students have enrolled in schools from elementary to the secondary level. Furthermore upon the recommendation of the Supreme Leader, about 48/000 children without identity papers have been accepted by Iranian schools and this number also should be added to the said figure.
In addition to that, from 2000 to 2015 about 41414 refugees have been graduated from or are studying in different university levels including Associate of Arts, BA, MA and PhD. Also during 1982-2015, a number of 656222 refugees have attended in Literacy Courses and acquired writing and reading ability. At present, 18600 refugees are engaged in education through the assistance provided by the "Literacy Movement Organization of Iran" and also 3800 refugees are continuing their education in cooperation with UNHCR office in my country.
In the area of providing health and medical services and assistance to refugees and in order to resolve the insurance coverage for health and hospital services to refugees in the form of short and long term hospitalization, the Islamic Republic of Iran in cooperation with the UNHCR, has started the Fifth Phase of insurance covering free of charge services to 132000 vulnerable refugees, 1200 persons suffering from special diseases and 10800 members of their family.
In line with the empowerment of refugees and to provide proper condition for the promotion of the Reconstruction of Afghanistan, 9560 refugees have attended in classes of technical and vocational training and succeeded to acquire necessary skills enabling them to find a proper job and return to Afghanistan. This success has been achieved through the initiative made by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the form of a tripartite cooperation with UNHCR and Iranian Technico-Vocational Training Organization, as well as national and international NGOs during 2011-2015 period.
Given the protracted situation of refugees in Iran and imposition of heavy economic, political and social costs arising from this presence, at the time-being, it is not practically possible for us to undertake new commitments in this respect. Meanwhile, we strongly underline that durable solution of refugees' problem lies intheir voluntary repatriation and reintegration in their homeland through economic development of origin country.
It is our conviction that any new commitment by host countries should be in conformity with their national capacities and legislations; while, prior to that, it is necessary that the rest of international community also undertakes new and additional commitments towards refugees and host countries through a well defined mechanism.
It is also well deserved that the international community put in practice the 10% quota, recommended by the UNHCR, for the resettlement of refugees in third countries.
LR/PR
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