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The Republic of Korea and UNIDO support the development of sustainable settlements for Afghan refugees in Iran

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Iran
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UNIDO
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TEHERAN, 14 August 2019 – With a three-year, US$1.5 million contribution from the Republic of Korea, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will develop sustainable settlements for 18,000 of the most vulnerable Afghan refugees living in five of the most populated settlements in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“I am humbled to be able to make this contribution to this most meaningful project, which will be completed by 2022”, said Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Iran Ryu Jeong-Hyun. “I hope that the betterment of their living standards and a close cooperation with the business sector will create income opportunities for a large number of Afghan refugees in Iran. I would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the Korean Government’s complete commitment to providing humanitarian assistance in the future as well”.

The project will support a stable, environmentally-friendly and inclusive energy supply in the target sites through a multi-focal approach that combines integrated energy generation, waste management, capacity building and technical assistance for Afghan Refugees.

“We are very grateful to the Government and to the people of Korea for their generosity as their contribution will dramatically change the living conditions and the outlook on the future of the most vulnerable Afghan refugees in Iran”, said UNIDO Country Representative Maryam Javan Shahraki. “UNIDO will also ensure that these interventions will include vulnerable host communities as well”.

Special attention will be given to youth and women refugees, in order to strengthen their capacities and access to job opportunities through vocational trainings and appropriate action plans: access to self-employment opportunities will be promoted and facilitated, particularly focusing on the capacity building of female refugees, including the provision of small grants for refugees to establish and expand home-based and small businesses.

UNIDO has been a partner to the Government of Iran in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development since 1965; UNIDO has implemented technical assistance projects in numerous conflict-affected countries and situations, targeting refugees, Internally Displaced Persons as well as their host communities in various parts of the world including Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Iran hosts the world’s fourth largest refugee population, with nearly 980,000 registered Afghan and Iraqi refugees. The ultimate goal of the project is to support ongoing efforts within the country to cope with urgent needs and gaps and to provide more livable and sustainable solutions for refugees while contributing to tackle environmental degradation and climate change.

For more information, please contact:

Maryam Javan Shahraki

UNIDO Representative in Iran

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