Nader Yar-Ahmadi from Iran’s migration organization and CESVI’s Marcelo García Dalla Costa explored collaborative efforts to support refugees in Iran. Dalla Costa highlighted plans for agricultural projects to aid livelihoods for refugees, while Yar-Ahmadi addressed the burdens on Iran due to insufficient international assistance. Both officials emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in the humanitarian sector amid potential policy changes due to inadequate global support.
On February 16, Nader Yar-Ahmadi, head of Iran’s National Organization for Migration, and Marcelo García Dalla Costa from CESVI (an Italian humanitarian organization) convened to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation. The meeting primarily focused on implementing humanitarian joint projects aimed at supporting Iran’s role as a host country for refugees, as reported by ILNA.
Dalla Costa acknowledged Iran’s significant efforts in accommodating refugees, recognizing the substantial challenges due to limited international aid. He proposed agricultural projects aimed at providing food security, income generation, and livelihood support for both foreign nationals in Iran and Afghan citizens.
During the discussions, Dalla Costa noted Italy’s commitment to support CESVI, following his meeting with the Italian ambassador to Iran. This support aims to extend assistance to refugees, immigrants, and foreign nationals residing in Iran.
Yar-Ahmadi also shared insights into the National Organization for Migration’s initiatives towards accommodating Afghan refugees and other displaced populations, emphasizing the associated challenges. He expressed a hopeful outlook toward executing cooperative humanitarian projects, particularly within the agricultural sector, and committed to assembling a team of agricultural experts to facilitate the plan.
In a related context, Yar-Ahmadi expressed concerns that Iran may reassess its immigration policies if the international community fails to share the responsibilities of hosting refugees. In comments made at the UNHCR’s 75th Annual Session, he stated that Iran is experiencing significant pressures due to the influx of foreign nationals without corresponding support from the UNHCR.
Yar-Ahmadi highlighted the discrepancies between the UNHCR budget and actual requirements for refugees, revealing that merely one percent of the funding needs have been met. He stated, “The priority of the country is to resettle vulnerable refugees in third countries.” He emphasized that political factors, such as sanctions, should not impede humanitarian efforts.
Also, addressing the strains on the educational system due to Afghan students, Yar-Ahmadi urged the UNHCR to allocate funds for building new schools and covering associated costs. He noted that only 21 schools have been constructed since 2021, significantly below the estimated need for 25,000 classrooms.
The meeting between Iran’s National Organization for Migration and CESVI illustrates a mutual commitment to bolstering humanitarian support for refugees. While addressing the challenges of hosting Afghan nationals, effective collaboration in the agricultural sector could enhance livelihood assistance. However, potential revisions to Iranian immigration policies loom if international support remains inadequate, underscoring the urgent need for equitable distribution of responsibilities in refugee hosting.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
