Pakistan's Jalozai Refugee Camp to Be Closed

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 12, 2002

Pakistan's Jalozai Refugee Camp to Be Closed

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The Jalozai refugee camp, a makeshift transit point for masses of Afghans fleeing their war- torn country, will be closed on Tuesday (February 12), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday.

UNHCR deputy representative to Pakistan Eva Demant and commissioner for Afghan refugees will officially close the site, a statement of the United Nations refugee agency said.

Often referred to as a death camp by former residents, Jalozai proved a major source of contention between the U.N. and Islamabad as aid agencies struggled to provide relief to thousands of people living under deplorable conditions.

Located 35 kilometers southwest of Peshawar, capital of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), the Jalozai transit camp housed some 70,000 people, 50,000 of whom have been transferred. Additionally, 10,000 of these were recognized and registered as genuine refugees by UNHCR and transferred to the new Shamshatoo refugee camp outside the city before September 11, 2001, according to UNHCR spokesperson Melita Sunjic.

Most of the former residents of the camp are now living in one of six new camps built in NWFP since September 11, including Kotkai, Bajaur, Shalman, Old Bagzai, Basu and Ashgaru. The remaining some 800 refugees will be transferred to Barkili close to the Afghan border.

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