PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD: UNHCR voluntary repatriation programme for registered Afghan refugees is closed due to winter break and will resume in March 2020.

TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN ALLOWS EXPELLED NGOS TO RETURN: The Transitional Government of Sudan has allowed international NGOs that were expelled by the previous regime in 2009 to re-register in Sudan. At the same time, the Federal Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) issued decisions regarding the deregistration of 58 national non-government organizations perceived to be linked to the previous regime. These developments might affect the capacity of partners to provide humanitarian relief to South Sudanese refugees in Sudan

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION TOOL (GDT) USED TO COMPLETE FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN WHITE NILE STATE: A third cycle of the roll-out of biometric food distribution using the Global Distribution Tool (GDT) took place in November, conducted by a joint team formed by the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), UNHCR, WFP and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in the White Nile State. The exercise was conducted in the camps of Alagaya, Dabat Bosin, Khor Al Warel, Um Sangor and Al Jameya, with a total of about 105,239 beneficiaries targeted.

PILOT SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN SOUTH DARFUR: World Vision International (WVI) together with the national NGO National Humanitarian Aid Organization (NaHA) launched a pilot supplementary feeding program by distributing food vouchers to the refugee community in El Radom settlement in South Darfur, targeting 8,000 refugees and 2,000 members of the host community. The program aims to complement the general food distribution (GFD) with additional items, focusing on supporting people with special needs, particularly children. The program will continue up to March 2020 as pilot project for El Radom settlement.

SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEES RELOCATION PUT ON HOLD IN EAST DARFUR: A shortage of bamboo sheets used to set-up new shelters has put on hold the relocation of South Sudanese refugees to the new extension at Kario camp in East Darfur. Situated 1.2 km away from Kario, the new extension is a recent allocated land that will accommodate 1,400 refugee households (around 4,200 individuals), including new arrivals and refugees heavily affected by floods, in order to reducing the overcrowding of Kario camp.

Kelly T. Clements, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, concluded a four-day visit to Bangladesh. While in Cox’s Bazar, she met with local officials to discuss the ongoing operational response and opportunities to further aid Bangladeshi communities generously hosting refugees.

PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD, 4 November 2019 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has handed over emergency relief items to the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to strengthen their emergency response and supply preparedness.

PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD: Mr. Okoth-Obbo will also participate in the appointment ceremony of UNHCR’s first National Goodwill Ambassador in Pakistan and inaugurate a cold chain provincial warehouse in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In addition, he will have an opportunity to interact with refugees during his visit. During his four-day visit, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations will meet with senior Pakistani government officials, as well as meet with Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Peshawar. Mr. Okoth-Obbo will also participate in the appointment ceremony of UNHCR’s first National Goodwill Ambassador in Pakistan and inaugurate a cold chain provincial warehouse in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In addition, he will have an opportunity to interact with refugees during his visit.

PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD – 6 November 2019: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced on Wednesday the appointment of Pakistani actress Ms. Mahira Khan as UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Khan had been supporting UNHCR’s activities for the last few years and has remained a strong voice for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. “I feel privileged to have been chosen to serve this noble cause,” said Ms. Khan at the appointment ceremony, which was held on Wednesday in Islamabad.

PAKISTAN: ISLAMABAD, 29 October 2019: The Government of Japan has announced a contribution of USD 2.1 million to support refugees and their host communities in Pakistan.