UNHCR Afghanistan Presentation Returnee Reintegration Policy Review Workshop 13-14 December 2011, Kabul.

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).

Repatriation Process Repatriation Process Repatriation Cash Grant MapRepatriation Cash Grant Map

Repatriation ProcessRepatriation Process

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.

Thank you Thank you

??