DUSHANBE, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - The flow of Afghan refugees to Tajikistan could grow, the United Nations refugee agency representative in the Central Asian country said on Friday, calling on Dushanbe to continue to help those in need.
"I cannot deny such a possibility so I call on the Tajik government to keep their doors open and give asylum and protection to those who need it and to continue to work with us in this direction," the UNHCR's Ilya Todorovich said.
Tajikistan is the only country among ex-Soviet states that officially gives asylum to Afghan refugees.
The UNHCR and other international agencies are trying to monitor the situation and provide assistance.
According to Todorovich, the situation in Afghanistan is getting worse with each passing day so "it is hard to count on people being able to return in the immediate future."
Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months, with the radical Islamic Taliban group, toppled in a 2001 U.S.-led campaign, staging regular attacks on provincial government officials, police and civilians and planting roadside devices as part of the battle with U.S. and NATO troops.
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