UNHCR Afghanistan Presentation

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

2. UNHCR Facilitated Voluntary Repatriation • The legal Framework for Repatriation • Repatriation Process • Return Trends • Returnee Monitoring @ the ECs • Future Scenarios

3. Tripartite Agreement THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR REPATRIATION • The volrep is governed by the Tripartite Agreement, which enables the parties (Government of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and UNHCR to ensure the integrity of the repatriation process. • In May 2010 the Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan and UNHCR formally extended the Tripartite Agreement governing the voluntary repatriation of registered Afghans in Pakistan through the end of December 2012. • Similarly, on 28 June and after a two-year break, UNHCR and the Governments of Iran and Afghanistan held Tripartite Consultations on the repatriation of Afghans from Iran. The resulting agreement outlined the duties and responsibilities of each party, with UNHCR taking a supervisory role in the repatriation and reintegration processes.

4. Repatriation Process • In Country of Asylum: • An Afghan refugee wishing to return to Afghanistan with the assistance of UNHCR must approach UNHCR’s Voluntary Repatriation Centres (VRCs) in the country of asylum to register for return and sign a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). VRFs are available at VRCs in Pakistan and Iran and at UNHCR Offices in other countries of asylum. • In Country of Origin: • Upon arrival in Afghanistan, returnees must approach a UNHCR Encashment Centre (EC) to receive the transportation and reintegration cash grant. At the ECs, returnees have access to a variety of services including briefings on mine-awareness and education procedures in Afghanistan, polio and measles vaccinations for children, mosquito nets in malaria-prone areas, basic medical assistance, information on how to access legal aid assistance and transit centres for overnight stay. There are five UNHCR ECs in the country: Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Gardez and Kandahar. All of them are managed by UNHCR in cooperation with the Government’s Provincial Departments of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR).

5. Repatriation Process Repatriation Cash Grant Map

6. Repatriation Process

7. Return trends • Since 2002, some 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned to their home country, of which 4.6 million have been assisted by UNHCR and the respective governments through the voluntary repatriation program

8. Return 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.

9. Return trends • So far in 2011 some 66,491 Afghan refugees returned voluntarily; • 47,879 from Pakistan - 54% decrease compared to 104,331 Afghans who returned during 2010. The decrease in returns may be attributed to the extension of the POR cards through 2012 as well as improved security in the country. • 18,513 from Iran - 56% increase compared to 8,196 Afghans who came back during the same period last year. The increase in returns from Iran may be largely attributed to the economic pressures and the discontinuation of subsidies on basic goods and services by the Iranian Government. • 99 from other countries

10. Return trends Main areas of return from Pakistan

11. Return trends Recorded destination - 2002-2011 • 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

12. Encashment Centre Returnee Monitoring • UNHCR and MoRR staff conducting Encashment Centre Returnee monitoring at the five ECs serving returnees from Pakistan and Iran; • Jamal Mayna: 30 % • Mohmmad Dara: 28 % • Kabul: 27 % • Herat: 8 % • Gardez: 7 % • This monitoring exercise assists UNHCR & MoRR in identifying trends in repatriation, such as push and pull factors, as well as protection concerns of returnees • So far this year a total of 3,081 interviews conducted (representing 30% of returnee families), of whom 2,827 interviews with returnees from Pakistan & 254 with returnees from Iran

13. Encashment Centre Returnee Monitoring • 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

14. 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

15. Push & Pull Factors of Return

16. Push & Pull Factors of Return

17. Potential Refugee Returnees (Future Scenarios) – 2012 & 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.

18. Thank you ?