Chapter III. PLEDGES GERMANY PLEDGE FORM One of the most protracted and complex refugee and IDP situations in the world is that of about 3.5 million Afghans who found shelter in Pakistan and Iran or have become internally displaced in their conflict-stricken homeland. Since 2002, over 5.5 million Afghan refugees have returned home, but 40 per cent of these people have not yet fully reintegrated, which – in addition to the 0.5 million IDPs – creates a security issue as well as a humanitarian issue. Sustainable reintegration of these roughly 2.5 million Afghans would have a strong impact on the overall stability of the country. Despite continued efforts to facilitate voluntary repatriation and to support reintegration initiatives in the sub-region, there are about 2 million Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan and more than 1 million Afghan refugees in Iran. Not all of these people are likely to return to their homeland in the face of continued security issues there and considering the long span of time they have already spent abroad. Therefore, only a multi-pronged approach can help solve the Afghan refugee situation. Germany is committed to contribute to a durable solution and ready to support UNHCR's efforts as outlined in its “Comprehensive Solutions Strategy for the Afghan Situation (2012 - 2014)”. In this spirit, Germany pledges to: • Facilitate and support voluntary repatriation – also by creating better conditions for the return of Afghan refugees and IDPs in the areas where they settle down. • Help lighten the burden of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan by redoubling Germany's contribution to the UNHCR country programme in Iran and continuing to substantially support programmes in Pakistan, from which Afghan refugees and struggling Pakistani host communities benefit to the same extent. • Continue to fund Germany's highly regarded and very successful Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) and, in this context, consider increasing the number of scholarships for Afghan refugees. 75