Islamic Republic of Iran is second largest host of refugees in world, Deputy Head of UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) Veronica Irima said here Monday night, IRNA reported.
The UNHCR official made the comment on a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Isfahan in Political and Security Affairs Mohammad-Mahdi Esmaeili, adding, "I appreciate you, as an official of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for hosting such a large number of the world refugees."
Pointing out that the Iranian nation's hospitality is internationally renowned, she reiterated, "Iran's viewpoint about the refugees differs with that of the other countries, and is very particular and unique."
She asked for declaring the needs and priorities of the refugees in Iran's various provinces, to help the international body allocate budget to the purpose.
The Deputy Isfahan Governor, too pointing out the numerous activities pursued regarding the foreign citizens in Isfahan Province, said that in Islamic Republic of Iran the refugees and aliens are respected as human beings."
Esmaeili added, "The refugees are not stationed in camps, like the other countries, including the western countries do, in Isfahan, or in any other part of Iran, but live side by side with the Iranian citizens inside the cities."
He said that the living conditions of the refugees are not acceptable though, and they are entangled with serious problems.
The Managing Director of Isfahan Governorate's Foreign Citizens and Refugees, too, said that there are 130,000 Afghani refuges living in Isfahan Province.