Number of refugees down, Pakistanis still seek asylum

United Nations, Mar 18 (UNI) The number of total asylum seekers has fallen about 50 per cent over the last five years though a significant number of people from Pakistan continue to seek asylum in developed nations, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has said.

In its annual report released yesterday, the UNHCR said, ''The number of people who sought asylum in 50 industrialised countries decreased sharply last year touching the lowest level in about two decades''.

For the fourth year running, the number of political refugees fell to 336,000, a decrease of 15 per cent over the previous year, it added.

''With the numbers of asylum-seekers at a record low, industrialised countries are now in a position to devote more attention to improving the quality of their asylum systems, from the point of view of protecting refugees, rather than cutting numbers,'' UN High Comissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said.

''Despite public perceptions, majority of the refugees in the World are still hosted by developing countries such as Tanzania, Iran and Pakistan'' UNHCR chief spokesperson Ron Redmond said.

A combination of factors has contributed to this downward trend, he added.

''Improvements in the situation in some regions such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and parts of Africa, is an important factor,'' Mr Redmond said.

UNI XC ARB VC1145