Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)‘s Office in Tehran Sivanka Dhanapala praised Iran’s performance in hosting and aiding foreign refugees, specially the Afghans. Dhanapala announced on Thursday that Iran has been successful in hosting the highest number of refugees in the world, and praised the country’s contribution to the promotion of refugees’ welfare and upgrading their educational level.
Afghan refugee boys in Iran (source: UNHCR)
The literacy rate of the Afghan refugees that stood at six percent upon arrival in Iran, dramatically rose to 60 percent in 2013, he said, adding that this is an indication of Iran’s success in that regard.
“No host country can gain such an achievement,” Dhanapala said.
Praising Iran’s hospitality, he said, along with Lebanon and Pakistan, Iran has been the major refugee hosting country around the world.
Iran has been a generous host for more than 2 million Afghan refugees for two decades, with little help from the international community.
The other Iran 