The UN takes an interest in Kazakhstan’s repatriating of its citizens from conflict zones and their reintegration into society

New York, 5 December 2019 — More than 130 representatives of UN member states, international non-governmental organizations and specialized agencies of the United Nations took part in a roundtable organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in New York, themed “Kazakhstan’s experience in repatriation of its citizens from conflict zones and their reintegration into society”.

“Operation Zhusan is more than just a humanitarian mission: it is also an internationally recognized counter-terrorism strategy. Through rehabilitation and reintegration, we prevent the further radicalization of our citizens”, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev at the opening of the meeting.

The Deputy Foreign Minister spoke about the specifics of working to return compatriots from conflict zones, focused mainly on saving women and children. Out of 595 citizens repatriated from Syria as part of the special operation, more than 400 are minor children. Another 14 children were evacuated from Iraq to Kazakhstan on 27 November this year. Mr. Ashikbayev thanked UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the authorities of Iraq and the USA, as well as other partners, for their invaluable contribution to the success of the operations.

Mr. Ashikbayev also shared details surrounding the program of rehabilitating and reintegrating repatriated citizens. According to him, the methodology of such work is comprehensive and balanced, based on the social characteristics of each of the groups, including orphans, children from single-parent families, women with children or single women and men. They are provided with necessary medical care in the “Akniyet” adaptation center in Aktau, and more than 40 theologians and 17 psychologists work with them.

“With the escalation of conflicts and tensions throughout the world, it is vital to take all necessary measures to ensure that children grow up in a world free of fear, violence and despair. We must save the life of every child in such a situation, otherwise it will lead to further radicalization and new threats,” emphasized Mr. Ashikbayev. 

High representatives of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, as well as heads of UN diplomatic missions to the United States, Iraq, Turkey, Uzbekistan and other countries also spoke at the event. In their reports, they voiced words of support for Kazakhstan and an appreciation for its leading role in solving the urgent global problem, as well as calls for other states to study the Kazakhstan model and follow the example of our country.

Short documentaries about the operations to return Kazakh children from Syria and Iraq were shown to the participants of the round table.