Peshawar, July 30: The UNHCR today resumed its work after assurances from Pakistani authorities about protection of its staff after an attack on a UN vehicle in North West Frontier Province last week, an official said. "We started our all activities from today after police assured us of staff protection" a UNHCR official said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had suspended its operations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) after unidentified people opened fire on one of its vehicles during a polio vaccination campaign on July 24 in the semi-autonomous tribal area of Mohmand bordering Afghanistan. A Pakistani doctor in the vehicle survived the firing after its driver managed to speed away, officials said.
The UN refugee agency had also suspended repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their home country after the incident. "Police have assured our security management team that all protective measures would be taken to safeguard our officials" the UNHCR official said, requesting not to be identified by name.
The decision followed a meeting held here on Tuesday between UNHCR and senior police officials, who promised "the culprits would be arrested soon," he said. Bureau Report