UN: Afghan Refugee Strategy a ‘Big Mistake’

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AFP, 28 December 2011
Peter Nicolaus, head of the UN refugee programme in Afghanistan on Tuesday described its strategy in the war-wracked country since 2002 as the ‘biggest mistake UNHCR ever made’. He said the international community had failed to help returnees find a means of earning a living and therefore reintegrating into society and added: ‘We thought if we gave humanitarian assistance then macro development would kick in. […] You can build five roads to a village and the farmers will benefit because they can go to the next town to sell their vegetables. But the returnee doesn’t benefit at all. He has nothing to sell at the market.’