Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of recent UN reports on the situation in Afghanistan, he will comment on the security trajectory in that country; and on the general conditions experienced by those refugees who have been returning home under the Afghan return program. [27216/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to my reply to questions numbers 87 and 160 on 29 June regarding the current political and security situation in Afghanistan.

The reply noted that, while significant progress has been achieved in Afghanistan in last four years, considerable challenges still remain. It stated also that in any country developing the democratic structures, institutions and administrative systems necessary to provide essential public services and ensure a secure environment for all is a process that takes time. Ensuring security in Afghanistan is an especially challenging and complex task, particularly given the presence of violent factions who stand to benefit considerably from a destabilised country.

The security situation remains a cause of serious concern. Levels of insurgency-related violence have risen since the beginning of the year and attacks, including suicide bombings, aimed at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), other international security forces and Afghan security forces, have increased. The illicit narcotics industry also remains a major challenge to the long-term security, development and effective governance of Afghanistan.

Ireland and the EU are playing their part in the reform process currently underway, both through participation in the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force and also in providing financial assistance through the Afghanistan Compact launched at the International Conference on Afghanistan in London on 31 January/1 February which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1659 (2006) on 15 February. Ireland pledged €5 million at the Conference in London which will be expended over the next two years. Ireland has contributed a total of €22 million to reconstruction and recovery programmes in Afghanistan since 2002.

Since 2002, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has overseen the largest repatriation programme in the world, with the voluntary return of over 3.65 million refugees to Afghanistan from Pakistan, Iran and non-neighbouring countries in the period to end May 2006. In 2005 alone over half a million Afghans returned home to all parts of the country. In the "UNHCR Global Report 2005", published very recently, it is acknowledged that the volatile security situation has hampered UNHCR access to some areas of return, especially in the border areas with Pakistan.

It is significant, however, that the UNHCR's latest statistical overview for the return programme, published in May, indicated that 92% of returnees state that they are not vulnerable. This is not to underestimate the considerable challenges that remain for the UNHCR return programme and in ensuring a secure, peaceful and stable environment for the people of Afghanistan. In this regard, the UNHCR and others will give particular focus in the period ahead to the need to find durable solutions and a long-term approach to the sustainable reintegration of returnees into the difficult socio-economic environment in Afghanistan.