RESTART II - Reintegration Assistance for Voluntary

Returnees to Afghanistan and Iran

1 Year of Project Implementation - Results

31.12.2017

The project RESTART II – Reintegration Assistance for Voluntary Returnees to Afghanistan and Iran is being

implemented from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2019 by IOM and co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and

Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Union and the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

8.5%

women

91.5%

men

90 returnees to Afghanistan

87 returnees to Iran

177

RESTART II benficiaries received assistance

for their voluntary return*

*The RESTART II assistance for voluntary return comprises travel

organization, assistance upon departure and, if required, recepti-

on assistance, temporary accommodation as well as organization

of the onward journey in the country of origin.

A Story of Return to Iran

Arash D. returned to Tehran in March

2017. With the available reintegration

assistance, D. started a business for

interior design. He can now utilize the

German language skills that he aquired

in Austria as he also sells products of a

German company. With the additional

reintegration assistance, he would like

to attend an advanced German

language course.

D. is satisfied with his economic

situation: He can cover his living ex-

penses and support his family.

Arash D. in his shop for interior design in Tehran. © IOM 2017

141 returnees received

EUR 500,- cash assistance

a f t e r the i r re turn

(79 Afghanistan, 62 Iran).

83 returnees received

in-kind assistance for in-

come generating activities

(52 Afghanistan, 31 Iran).

50 returnees received

assistance for the rent or

renovation of their accom-

modation (39 Afghanis-

tan, 11 Iran).

1 business start-up

guide was developed to

provide basic financial

knowledge to project

beneficiaries.

© IOM 2017

117 project informati-

on sessions were

conducted by IOM with

returnees prior to the de-

parture in Austria.

6

4

89

13

6

10

6 6

2

7

13

4

1011

5

15

8

34

6

43

14

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

RESTART II: Returnees per Month 2017

Afghanistan Iran

Voluntary Return and Vulnerability

2 Family Assessments on the family and social situation of unaccompanied minor

project beneficiaries were conducted in the countries of origin (1 Afghanistan, 1 Iran)

2 persons received medical country of origin information prior to return

(1 Afghanistan, 1 Iran)

4 unaccompanied minor project beneficiaries were assisted in the voluntary

return (1 Afghanistan, 3 Iran)

14 women returning alone were assisted in the voluntary return

(2 Afghanistan, 12 Iran)

2 returnees received medical assistance after their return (both Iran)

Continuous support of return counselling organizations for the voluntary return of vul-

nerable project beneficiaries

After a thorough family assessment, 16-year-old Zeinab F. (photo above) returned to Iran where she was welcomed by her grandmother at the airport in Mashhad. © IOM 2017

IOM Country Office for Austria

Nibelungengasse 13/4 | 1010 Vienna | Austria

Telephone: +43 1 585 33 22 0 • Fax: +43 1 585 33 22 30

Email: avrr.vienna@iom.int

A Story of Return to Afghanistan

Mohabet S. came to Austria in July 2017. In October of the same year, he

decided to return to Kunar province in Afghanistan. He used his

reintegration assistance to purchase cattle. As his family had always been

working in agriculture, he had the relevant work experience.

Today, S. sells milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt on the local market. Not

only can he sustain himself, but he is also able to support his wife and his

eight children.

Mohabet S. at the pasture in Kunar province. © IOM 2017

Partnerships and Cooperation

A working group at the International Work-shop for Return Counsellors on 7 November 2017 in Vienna. © IOM 2017

2 International Workshops for Return

Counsellors from all over Austria

11 Networking meetings with return

counselling organizations

5 Exchange meetings with embassies

and diaspora organizations

14 Interviews with media and academia

4 Editions of the AVRR Newsletter

RESTART II: 1 Year of Project Implementation - Results