UNHCR UNHCR Afghanistan Afghanistan PresentationPresentation
UNHCR UNHCR Afghanistan Afghanistan PresentationPresentation
Returnee Reintegration Returnee Reintegration Policy Review WorkshopPolicy Review Workshop
13-14 December 2011, 13-14 December 2011, KabulKabul
The legal Framework for The legal Framework for RepatriationRepatriation
Repatriation ProcessRepatriation Process Return TrendsReturn Trends Returnee Monitoring @ the ECsReturnee Monitoring @ the ECs Future ScenariosFuture Scenarios
UNHCR Facilitated Voluntary UNHCR Facilitated Voluntary RepatriationRepatriation
Tripartite Agreement Tripartite Agreement THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR
REPATRIATIONREPATRIATION The volrep is governed by the Tripartite Agreement, The volrep is governed by the Tripartite Agreement, which enables the parties (Government of Afghanistan, which enables the parties (Government of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and UNHCR to ensure the integrity of the Pakistan, Iran and UNHCR to ensure the integrity of the repatriation process.repatriation process.
In May 2010 the Governments of Pakistan and In May 2010 the Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan and UNHCR formally extended the Tripartite Afghanistan and UNHCR formally extended the Tripartite Agreement governing the voluntary repatriation of Agreement governing the voluntary repatriation of registered Afghans in Pakistan through the end of registered Afghans in Pakistan through the end of December 2012.December 2012.
Similarly, on 28 June and after a two-year break, UNHCR Similarly, on 28 June and after a two-year break, UNHCR and the Governments of Iran and Afghanistan held and the Governments of Iran and Afghanistan held Tripartite Consultations on the repatriation of Afghans Tripartite Consultations on the repatriation of Afghans from Iran. The resulting agreement outlined the duties and from Iran. The resulting agreement outlined the duties and responsibilities of each party, with UNHCR taking a responsibilities of each party, with UNHCR taking a supervisory role in the repatriation and reintegration supervisory role in the repatriation and reintegration processes.processes.
Repatriation ProcessRepatriation Process In Country of Asylum: In Country of Asylum:
An Afghan refugee wishing to return to Afghanistan with the An Afghan refugee wishing to return to Afghanistan with the assistance of UNHCR must approach UNHCR’s Voluntary assistance of UNHCR must approach UNHCR’s Voluntary Repatriation Centres (VRCs) in the country of asylum to register for Repatriation Centres (VRCs) in the country of asylum to register for return and sign a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). VRFs are return and sign a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). VRFs are available at VRCs in Pakistan and Iran and at UNHCR Offices in available at VRCs in Pakistan and Iran and at UNHCR Offices in other countries of asylum.other countries of asylum.
In Country of Origin: In Country of Origin: Upon arrival in Afghanistan, returnees must approach a UNHCR Upon arrival in Afghanistan, returnees must approach a UNHCR
Encashment Centre (EC) to receive the transportation and Encashment Centre (EC) to receive the transportation and reintegration cash grant. At the ECs, returnees have access to a reintegration cash grant. At the ECs, returnees have access to a variety of services including briefings on mine-awareness and variety of services including briefings on mine-awareness and education procedures in Afghanistan, polio and measles education procedures in Afghanistan, polio and measles vaccinations for children, mosquito nets in malaria-prone areas, vaccinations for children, mosquito nets in malaria-prone areas, basic medical assistance, information on how to access legal aid basic medical assistance, information on how to access legal aid assistance and transit centres for overnight stay. There are five assistance and transit centres for overnight stay. There are five UNHCR ECs in the country: Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Gardez and UNHCR ECs in the country: Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Gardez and Kandahar. All of them are managed by UNHCR in cooperation with Kandahar. All of them are managed by UNHCR in cooperation with the Government’s Provincial Departments of Refugees and the Government’s Provincial Departments of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR).Repatriation (DoRR).
Return trendsReturn trends Since 2002, some 5.7 million Afghan Since 2002, some 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned to their home country, of refugees have returned to their home country, of which 4.6 million have been assisted by UNHCR which 4.6 million have been assisted by UNHCR and the respective governments through the and the respective governments through the voluntary repatriation programvoluntary repatriation program
Other Countries
15,649
Iran891,784
Pakistan3,695,664
Return trendsReturn trends
The era of voluntary mass return, as seen between 2002 and 2005, has ended mainly due to the lack of absorption capacity and deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the fact that most of the remaining registered populations living in Pakistan (1.9 million) and Iran (nearly 1 million) have been in exile for over twenty years; many of them were born in exile and have lost vital linkages to their homeland.
Annual Breakdown of Return by CoA - 03 Mar 2002 - 30 November 2011
0
700,000
1,400,000
2,100,000
2,800,000
3,500,000
4,200,000
Pakistan 1,565,066 332,183 383,321 449,391 133,338 357,635 274,200 48,320 104,331 47,879 3,695,664
Iran 259,792 142,280 377,151 63,559 5,264 7,054 3,656 6,028 8,487 18,513 891,784
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Total
Return trendsReturn trends
So far in 2011 some 66,491 Afghan refugees So far in 2011 some 66,491 Afghan refugees returned voluntarily;returned voluntarily;
o 47,879 from Pakistan47,879 from Pakistan- - 54%54% decrease compared to decrease compared to 104,331104,331 Afghans Afghans who returned during 2010. The decrease in who returned during 2010. The decrease in returns may be attributed to the extension of returns may be attributed to the extension of the POR cards through 2012 as well as the POR cards through 2012 as well as improved security in the country. improved security in the country.
o 18,513 from Iran18,513 from Iran- - 56%56% increase compared to increase compared to 8,1968,196 Afghans Afghans who came back during the same period last who came back during the same period last year. The increase in returns from Iran may year. The increase in returns from Iran may be largely attributed to the economic be largely attributed to the economic pressures and the discontinuation of pressures and the discontinuation of subsidies on basic goods and services by the subsidies on basic goods and services by the Iranian Government.Iranian Government.
o 99 from other countries99 from other countries
Return trends Return trends Main areas of return from Main areas of return from PakistanPakistanReturn by Province of CoA - Pakistan - 2002 - 2011
624,
809
576,
619
303,
197
7,92
4
1,82
62,18
1,28
9
-
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
KPK
/F.
A.T
.A.
Isla
mab
ad&
Pun
jab
Bal
ochi
stan
Sind
Jam
mu
&Kas
hmir
Var
ious
Individuals
Return by Province of CoA - Iran - 2002 - 2011
147,
999
91,5
26
64,9
04
64,8
14
52,4
34
33,1
81
26,5
52
26,9
01
14,1
23
11,5
42
9,38
4
7,85
8
7,50
9
5,92
8
5,30
9
1,02
7
897
166
99 75 3 3,39
0316,
163
-
70,000
140,000
210,000
280,000
350,000
Teh
ran
Sist
an v
aBal
uche
stan
Esfa
han
Kho
rasa
n
Fars
Ker
man
Qom
Yaz
d
Hor
moz
gan
Mar
kazi
Gol
esta
n
Khu
zest
an
Sem
nan
Qaz
vin
Bus
hehr
Maz
anda
ran
Gila
nKoh
gilu
yeh
vaAza
rbay
ejan
-e
shar
ghi
Lore
stan
Ham
adan
Kor
dest
an
Var
ious
Individuals
Return trends Return trends Recorded destination - Recorded destination - 2002-20112002-2011• Over 80% of the total returns to C, E, N & NE regions
• The top 5 provinces of returns are; Kabul, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Baghlan and Kandahar provinces
Region2002 - 2011 2011
Individuals Individuals % Individuals Individuals %
Central 1,709,833 37.1% 21,752 32.7%
East 1,130,067 24.6% 15,794 23.8%
Northeast 594,325 12.9% 8,207 12.3%
North 371,001 8.1% 5,251 7.9%
West 278,180 6.0% 6,357 9.6%
South 277,342 6.0% 5,915 8.9%
Southeast 180,077 3.9% 2,710 4.1%
C. Highlands 43,909 1.0% 505 0.8%
Various 18,363 0.4% - 0.0%
Total 4,603,097 100.0% 66,491 100.0%
Encashment Centre Returnee Encashment Centre Returnee MonitoringMonitoring
• UNHCR and MoRR staff conducting Encashment UNHCR and MoRR staff conducting Encashment Centre Centre Returnee monitoring at the five ECs serving Returnee monitoring at the five ECs serving returnees returnees from Pakistan and Iran;from Pakistan and Iran;
• Jamal Mayna: Jamal Mayna: 30 %30 %• Mohmmad Dara: Mohmmad Dara: 28 %28 %• Kabul: Kabul: 27 %27 %• Herat: Herat: 8 % 8 %• Gardez: Gardez: 7 % 7 %
• This monitoring exercise assists UNHCR & MoRR in This monitoring exercise assists UNHCR & MoRR in identifying trends in repatriation, such as push and identifying trends in repatriation, such as push and
pull pull factors, as well as protection concerns of returneesfactors, as well as protection concerns of returnees
• So far this year a total of So far this year a total of 3,0813,081 interviews interviews conducted conducted (representing 30% of returnee families), of (representing 30% of returnee families), of whomwhom 2,827 2,827 interviews with returnees from interviews with returnees from Pakistan & 254 with Pakistan & 254 with returnees from Iranreturnees from Iran
• UNHCR and MoRR staff conducting Encashment UNHCR and MoRR staff conducting Encashment Centre Centre Returnee monitoring at the five ECs serving Returnee monitoring at the five ECs serving returnees returnees from Pakistan and Iran;from Pakistan and Iran;
• Jamal Mayna: Jamal Mayna: 30 %30 %• Mohmmad Dara: Mohmmad Dara: 28 %28 %• Kabul: Kabul: 27 %27 %• Herat: Herat: 8 % 8 %• Gardez: Gardez: 7 % 7 %
• This monitoring exercise assists UNHCR & MoRR in This monitoring exercise assists UNHCR & MoRR in identifying trends in repatriation, such as push and identifying trends in repatriation, such as push and
pull pull factors, as well as protection concerns of returneesfactors, as well as protection concerns of returnees
• So far this year a total of So far this year a total of 3,0813,081 interviews interviews conducted conducted (representing 30% of returnee families), of (representing 30% of returnee families), of whomwhom 2,827 2,827 interviews with returnees from interviews with returnees from Pakistan & 254 with Pakistan & 254 with returnees from Iranreturnees from Iran
Encashment Centre Returnee Encashment Centre Returnee MonitoringMonitoring
Of the respondents; 66 % were Males and 34 % were Females, of whom
4 % were minors between the ages of 12 and 17 85 % between age of 18 and 59 and 11 % were over the age of 60+
Of the respondents; 66 % were Males and 34 % were Females, of whom
4 % were minors between the ages of 12 and 17 85 % between age of 18 and 59 and 11 % were over the age of 60+
Years of exile: 75 % left Afghanistan during Communist regime 14 % during Taliban regime 8 % during Mujahideen period 3 % during Transitional government
Access to information to make an informed decision for return:
94 % had sufficient information to make an informed decision
Source of information on repatriation operation: 62 % Received info from the Afghan community 17 % Through UNHCR 9 % Through Media (mainly radio and TV) 9 % Visited Afghanistan
Source of information on place of origin:
55 % Received info from the Afghan community 25 % Visited Afghanistan 6 % Through Media (mainly radio and TV) 5 % Through UNHCR and 5 % Through other sources
Push & Pull Factors of ReturnPush & Pull Factors of Return
PUSH FACTORSPUSH FACTORS PAK IRNAverage(Pak/IRN)
Economic factors 67.6% 93.3% 80.5%
Alleged harassment by authorities 14.2% 6.3% 10.3%
Deteriorating security conditions 5.2% 0.0% 2.6%
Fear of arrest and/or deportation 2.4% 0.4% 1.4%
Lack of School and health facilities 1.0% 0.0% 0.5%
Other reasons 9.6% 0.0% 4.8%
Push & Pull Factors of ReturnPush & Pull Factors of Return
PULL FACTORSPULL FACTORS PAK IRNAverage
(PAK/IRN)
Local improvement in security in some parts of Afghanistan 50.6% 90.6% 70.6%
Employment opportunities 16.6% 0.0% 8.3%
Land allocation scheme and/or UNHCR shelter program 13.3% 4.3% 8.8%
UNHCR assistance package 10.7% 0.0% 5.4%
No longer have a fear of persecution 5.1% 1.6% 3.3%
Improved weather condition 1.3% 0.0% 0.7%
Improvement in health and education facilities 1.3% 0.4% 0.8%
Other reasons 1.0% 3.1% 2.1%
Potential Refugee Returnees Potential Refugee Returnees (Future Scenarios) – 2012 & (Future Scenarios) – 2012 & 2013 2013
Scenario 1: As per ANDS RRI sector strategy, it is assumed that a projected figure of 400,000 will return to Afghanistan during 2012 and 2013
Scenario 2 - 320,000 during 2012 and 2013 Scenario 3 - 240,000 during 2012 and 2013
However, the actual return mainly depends on socio-economic opportunities and security situation in CoA (mainly Pakistan) and CoO. Therefore, UNHCR expects to facilitate the return of some 162,000 registered Afghans mainly from Pakistan, Iran and other NNCs during 2012 and a total of 150,000 during 2013.