TEHRAN – Yumiko Takashima, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran, has said the Organization is committed to introducing the services provided by Iran to immigrants and refugees to the world.

Takashima made the remarks during a trip to the city of Taibad, northeastern Khorasan Razavi province, on October 3.

Visiting a medical center for foreign nationals, the mine warning training center, and the zero point on the Iran-Afghanistan border, she pointed out “Iran is one of the most generous countries in providing services to the refugee and immigrant community.”

The health, medical, cultural, educational, and other services provided by the officials of Iran to immigrants and refugees are exceptional and unique, she said.

She added, “In less than a month, the international organizations’ forum will be held in Geneva, and I will present this service model to international organizations, of course, we need Iran's support to provide services with positive and real references.”

Takashima added: "Iran's services to refugees and immigrants are exceptional, and presenting it to the international community is one of the main duties of representative offices to be presented correctly, and we need Iran's support in this regard."

“Our close cooperation with the authorities of Iran to attract funds and provide the needs of refugees and immigrants is based on partnership and transparency.

Due to global conditions, all international organizations and agencies have reduced their aid and assistance, to attract more support and assistance more negotiations are needed.

Presenting demographic packages and Iran’s vision for serving refugees and immigrants are important for the representative office in Iran.

For sure that’s a heavy burden on the shoulders of the government of Iran and we need the cooperation and support of international organizations to provide more services to immigrants and refugees here, she added.

Services provided by Iran

For over four decades, Iran has been hosting one of the largest and most protracted refugee situations in the world and has provided asylum to refugees, mostly from Afghanistan.

Iran is home to over 800,000 registered refugees and some 2.6 million undocumented Afghans. Today, more than 500,000 Afghan children- including undocumented Afghans and those who have newly arrived in Iran are benefitting from Iran’s inclusive education policies, one of the most progressive in the world.

Despite the sanctions and economic pressures, Iran continues its comprehensive policy of providing services to refugees, and this is appreciable, UNHCR’s Officer in Charge, Inna Gladkova, said in November 2022.

The best solution and the most stable support system for refugees is that have access to schools and education just like Iranian nationals, she stated, IRNA reported.

Iran has taken effective and continuous measures to include all refugees, and the UNHCR also declares its readiness to fulfill its obligations, she noted.

In the provision of educational services, there are different aspects, she said, adding, "School construction, equipping schools, providing teachers and human resources, and providing quality educational services are the main and important work done by the Ministry of Education."

In protecting refugees and asylum seekers in Iran, since 1984 UNHCR has worked closely with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, national and international NGOs, and UN agencies providing a multitude of services.

Ivo Freijsen, the former representative of UNHCR in Iran, has said Iran is an exemplary country that has acted very well in hosting refugees and has been hosting them for a long time.

Forty years have passed since Iran started hosting them [refugees]. As we have always said, Iran has had positive approaches toward refugees, we appreciate that, and we are honored to support Iran's efforts, he said in an exclusive interview with Iran Newspaper published on September 4, 2022.

In fact, Iran provides wide-ranging services for refugees such as basic healthcare services, education, and vocational training.

MT/MG