UNHCR OCM Afghanistan, P.O.Box 3232, Kabul, Afghanistan

Date: June 1st, 2003 Issue No. 34

RETURN Information Update

Content of the Current Issue 1. Security (1) 2. Roads (2), UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation – 2003 (2) 3. Legal Aid Centers in the Region (4) 4. Employment in Afghanistan (6) 5. Questionnaire (13)

Security

Apart from reports of criminal activities and some sporadic incidents, the security situation has been generally stable. On May 20th, a hand-grenade was thrown into an NGO (IHSF) vehicle in Karte Char in Kabul City by two masked men riding on a motorcycle. The device was quickly thrown out by the passengers and did not explode. About 80 police officers were deployed in Mazar-e-Sharif on 27 May to maintain the deteriorating law and order situation there. Coalition and Afghan forces’ operation against Taliban and Al-qaeda has continued in the South with reports of some arrests.

Areas of Concern:

Hilmand, Kandahar and Zabul Provinces: This area continues to experience fighting between suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda groups and the Coalition forces, which has resulted in general tension.

Nangarhar (Sherzad District, Karez-e-Kabir village): The Council of Nangarhar Communities was inaugurated in Jalalabad on 18 May. The Council brings together representatives from 36 Shuras, leaders of different tribes and ethnic groups, Afghan government officials and other elements of Afghan society. The Council was established with the support of the Abdul Haq Foundation and aims to promote unity and peace as well as to seek solutions to the problems of the communities.

Logar (Khushi and Charkh districts): UN-MACA sent a team to Khushi District to begin a technical survey of the road for mine clearance. There have been reports of tensions in Charkh district due to the presence of two armed rival factions.

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Roads:

Salang Tunnel: The tunnel is currently closed during the day, and is open to traffic only from 7pm to 7am. The tunnel will be closed completely from mid June for at least 3 months while the rehabilitation work is carried out by the Turkish Construction Company (Cukurova), that intends to complete the task before December when winter sets in. An alternative route to the north is through Maidan Shahr (Wardak) and up through the Haji Gak pass to Bamyan. And from Bamyan it passes north to Doshi, Sayghan and Doabe Mikh Zarin, and then on to Pul-I-Khumri and north. There have been problems with this route as at least 2 bridges have been washed away, but the government is to make immediate efforts to replace these bridges in order to make this route accessible before the full closure of the Salang in June.

The trip from Kabul to Pul-I-Khumri through Bamyan takes at least 2 days with a good vehicle under optimal conditions. During the rehabilitation process of Salang Pass, UNHCR will assist those returnees that may opt to use the Shibar Pass, through Bamyan, with extra transportation cost.

Road Safety:

Road robberies are a major security problem for returnees from both Pakistan and Iran. Areas of particular concern includes:

- The road from Kunduz city to Shirkhan border. - Route from Hirat to Farah and Kandahar (Shindand to Dilaram) - Roads in the districts of Farsi, Gulistan and Ghormach (route to Bala Morghab) - Main road from Nili to Tirinkut, Uruzgan - Road between Ghazni centre and Malistan district and on connecting road between Malistan and Nawur. - The road from Ghazni to Kabul, especially in Saalar area of Said Abad district of Maidan/Wardak province. - Main road between Qalat and Ghazni. - The road linking Qalat to Lashkargah, Helmand Province.

The Afghan and Coalition forces have established joint check-posts on the main Kandahar-Spin Boldak road to inspect all traffic for security purposes.

Note: All returnees are advised NOT to travel during the night hours, and should seek shelter in one of the major settlements.

UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation –2003

1. From Neighbouring Countries: Important points to be remembered:

Returnees have the free choice of either returning to their village (location of origin) or to any other place in Afghanistan – but not to the IDP camps.

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Iris Validation Centres: All refugees returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan with UNHCR assistance will have to go through an iris machine, a computer-based technology that examines the eye and can detect if someone has been tested before. (Iris Recognition Centres are located at Hayatabad in Peshawar, Alizai in Kurram Agency and Chaman in Balochistan in Pakistan, and in Khost in Afghanistan.)

Anyone who is discovered to have received assistance before will not receive assistance. Returnees who want to receive the UNHCR assistance package have to go through the Iris screening; otherwise they will not receive their entitlements. Returnees are advised to have their VRFs with them while travelling in the host country and Afghanistan.

Single returnees will have to join other single returnees or families to make a minimum distribution unit.

Returnees should not approach just any Distribution Centre, but only the one marked on their VRFs, otherwise they will not receive assistance.

Transport assistance in cash will be provided to returnees at the Encashment Centres in Afghanistan located in Pul-I-Charkhi, Ghazni, Mohmand Dara, Zaranj, Daman, Mazar-I- Sharif, Pul-I-Khumri, Kunduz, Herat, Gardez and Khost. The DC’s in Mazar and Kunduz are assisting only the returnees from the Central Asian republics – those returning to northern provinces (Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Samangan, Balkh, Jawzjan, etc) should receive their entitlements at the first EC or in Pul-I-Khumri

Properly filled, signed and stamped VRFs will be valid for seven days (from the day the returnees (from Pakistan) leave the Iris Scan Centre and returnees from Iran from the day they leave the registration centre, and arrive at the Encashment Centre inside Afghanistan.

Depending on final destination in Afghanistan, each family member will receive between 3 - 30 dollars, and is limited to 7 persons per family. Children under12 months of age (less than one year) will receive only half of the amount given to other members of the family. Returnees from Karachi will receive an additional 5 dollars per person at the first Encashment centre.

Returnees from camps in Pakistan will receive 5 dollars per family in addition to the established amount if they transport construction material only from their dismantled houses. The transportation of construction material will be certified by a special note made on the VRF at the Registration point in Pakistan

Note: The Returnees' personal belongings are exempted from all customs duties. But please note that returnees neither can take commercial amounts of any item nor can they export governments’ proscribed items.

Children under 5 years of age will be vaccinated – (families are advised to have the previous vaccination cards at hand, if they have them.)

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Working Days: The UNHCR-assisted repatriation operation in Pakistan will run from Sundays to Thursdays. There will be no UNHCR-assisted repatriation on Fridays and Saturdays. In Iran, the operation will run from Saturday to Thursday. There will be no operation on Fridays.

Note: All refugee students must have their school certificates stamped by Afghan embassies/consulates before returning to Afghanistan. There have been reports that some Afghan embassies and consulates in the region have been charging Afghan refugees for validation/stamping of the school certificates of the students. The Afghanistan Foreign Ministry has now issued a directive to its missions in the region that they should NOT charge validation/stamping fees on academic certificates of repatriating Afghan students. Those graduates who want to work as teachers in Afghanistan should also have their documents stamped by Afghan embassies/consulates.

2. From Non-neighbouring countries: There are two types of voluntary repatriation schemes;

(a) The first type includes schemes paid for by the host governments or in support of host governments. Such schemes are currently in place in the UK, France, the Netherlands and Nauru, the latter with funding from Australia. The host countries provide a return package and ensure safe return to final destination, including coverage of travel expenses. Some of these programmes are administered by IOM in conjunction with UNHCR.

(b) The second scheme is a UNHCR-assisted project for the repatriation of Afghans from countries where the host government cannot be expected to pay for the return (such as in India, Kyrgyzstan and Kazhakstan). The project has also benefited Afghans repatriating from other countries such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Thailand and Zimbabwe, which covers a pre- departure grant of US$ 20 per person (maximum $100 per family), as well as the travel and visa costs. Returnees are eligible for the same assistance (inside Afghanistan) as those returning from neighbouring countries.

The International Organisation for Migration can also help Afghans to return home through the IOM Assisted Returns Programme and the Return of Qualified Afghans Programme.

Note: For further information about IOM programmes, please contact your local UNHCR or IOM office, or see their website: www.iom.ch, to find out whether a return programme operates in your country of asylum.

Legal Aid Centres in the Region:

The Advice and Legal Aid Centres (ALACs) have been established in the region. These centres can be approached by all Afghan refugees and returnees who require information or legal advice on matters that affect their rights and daily lives as well as for those who would like to receive information on the conditions in Afghanistan in order to make an informed decision to repatriate.

These centres are providing free legal advice and counselling on various issues. These centres are assisting refugees to make admissions to administrative bodies, lodge complaints and petitions before courts, and render legal representation. They also disseminate information about 4 5

conditions in Afghanistan, helping refugees who want to return in obtaining personal status documents such as birth and divorce certificates, and assisting them in tenancy and rent disputes that hamper repatriation, reimbursement of security deposits and complications in closing a Pakistan-based business or moving of personal effects to Afghanistan, providing legal assistance to Afghans detained in jails (teams of lawyers represent their cases in the court on humanitarian basis.).

1. Pakistan: In total, there are currently 11 Advice and Legal Aid Centres (ALACs) in Pakistan, and 3 implementing partners (NRC, ICMC and SHARP) are working under the ALAC project.

Punjab: There are 4 ALACs in Punjab province; 2 ALACs (one by ICMC and one by SHARP) are functioning in Islamabad, one by SHARP in Rawalpindi, and one by SHARP in Mianwali.

Balochistan: There is only one Advice Centre run by ICMS located in the Quetta City.

NWFP: There are 6 Legal centres; 4 of them (3 NRC centres and one ICMC centre) are located in Peshawar city, one NRC centre is based in Haripor, and one by NRC in Kohat.

2. Afghanistan: Inside Afghanistan, these centres are helping returnees by advising them on solving issues as land disputes, property issues, detained family members etc.

Kabul: NRC office: Qala-e-fatullah, House No. 570, Between Street 8/9, KABUL Mob: (0093)(0) 702.843.65 Sat. Ph: 008821.689.801.273

Nangarhar: NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council): House No. 4, Street No. 1, North of Sehat-e-Ama, (Beside UNDP Implementation Office)

3. Iran: Tehran: These centres addresses are: (i) Afghan Embassy, Pakistan Street, Corner of 12th Street, Tehran-Iran Tel. (98 21) 875-3089 / 873-7531 / 873-5040

(ii) Legal Commission of Vahdat Party, c/o Office of Vahdat Party, Vali-asr Street, Corner of Mahdi-ye Tehran- Iran, Tel. (98 21) 537-1479

(iii) Afghan Constitution Commission office recently opened in Tehran and located at: Office of the Afghan Constitution Commission in Tehran, North Sohrevardi Street, No. 3-161 Ground Floor, Tehran – Iran, Tel. (98 21) 874-3943

Mashad: The LOHK (Law Office of Ms. Haleh Keshawarz) provides legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Khurasan province and it is located at:

LOHK representative works two days a week (Sundays and Tuesdays from 08:30 to 1200) in UNHCR, Mashad office -No. 45, Sajjad Boulevard, Mashhad 91877. Tel: 785081, Fax: 783017). 5 6

And on Mondays from 16:30 to 19:00 at the Mediation Commission, with the participation of an Afghan elder and an Iranian official (judge), located in BAFIA Office. Ms Hale Keshawarz could be reached at: Tel (mobile): 0911 511 6090, Fax: 8412926

Return: For the first time this year, 200 Afghan families, who have been living in Chitral for the past 18-20 years, will be returning to Badakhshan, Kunar, Pajshir and Takhar in the first week of June.

Employment in Afghanistan

Central Region: General Situation: After the establishment of the Afghan Interim Administration, a large number of Afghan refugees started to return including former government employees, who have been reassigned to their previous posts.

The government wants its former staff return to their posts, but due to low salaries (1,700 to 5,000 Afs), some join International Organizations.

The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD): The MRRD has launched a new program called National Solidarity Programme (NSP) in five provinces of the country, which are Parwan, Kandahar, Herat, Bamyan and Farah. The $95-million program is targeting 4,000 villages in these five provinces, allocating $200(10,000 Afs) to each family. The programme was initially inaugurated in Panjshir on 23rd of April by the Minister of MRRD, the Defence Minister and a number of UN agencies.

According to Mr. Hanif Atmar, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, $20 000 will be transferred to each of 72 villages in Panjshir.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA): The Ministry of LSA has so far recruited 39,417 persons in various government departments -34,035 men and 5,382 are women.

According to the Ministry officials, as a principle all other ministries should submit their staff requirements to MLSA, who will, after proper procedure (vacancy announcements, selection) provide them the required staff. This principle is not being observed and has caused irregularities in the employment process.

The MISA, AGEF (a German NGO) and ILO (International Labour Organization) have signed an agreement of assistance for the improvement of the Employment Centre in the Ministry. Under this programme, the unemployed will be offered vocational courses such as carpentry, carpets weaving, electronics etc, and after the completion of the training, they will be provided with jobs in the private sector, and industrial and production projects. This project will be implemented by AGEF and financially supported by ILO.

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The Japanese and Korean governments have made proposals to the Ministry on creating job opportunities through the establishment of factories and companies, which has yet to be approved.

UNDP: UNDP has started a project called REAP (Recovery and Employment Afghan Program) in Kabul city and surrounding districts. The Japanese government has donated 3 million dollars for the project, of which 60% has been allocated to daily wages and 40% to construction materials. About 25,000 people have been employed under this project, with $5 for the skilled and $2 for unskilled labourers per day.

In addition, 20 vocational centres have been established in Kabul City and surrounding districts paying $2 per student and $5 per teacher per day to carry out tailoring and embroidery activities.

This project covers 2002 and 2003, and UNDP is planning to set up a few other training courses for women to be implemented in close co-operation with the Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Telecommunications, and the Martyrs and Disables. Under this project, women will receive training in computers, telephone operating and other telecommunication activities in order to enable them to find employment.

AGEF: AGEF is an international NGO financially supported by Germany and UK to offer its services to returnees and the rest of the population facing unemployment. The priority is given to returnees from the European countries.

AGEF also provides returnees mainly from Germany and UK with small business opportunities. Since the project began last year, AGEF has assisted in the establishment of 49 businesses, creating almost 2,000 new jobs. AGEF also has offices in Herat, Mazar and Jalalabad. AGEF in Afghanistan has so far provided 1,500 to 4,000 people with training and employment.

AGEF’s English language, computer, auto-mechanic and accounting training courses are for 3 months, in addition to “on the job” training that includes a few vocational skills training such as plumbing, bricklaying/masonry, carpentry, gardening and cooking. The students receive $90 per month during the 3-month course, and after completion, AGEF helps the graduates with the finding of employment.

Companies looking for staff also approach AGEF. In addition to training, AGEF pays the salaries of the individuals for the first six months. So far, 40 companies have been enlisted and applications from 300 applicants, including 50 women, have been registered with AGEF.

AGEF tries to match the Afghan experts living in Germany with vacancies in Afghan ministries and will pay their salaries for the first two years of their employment.

UNOPS: UNOPS is carrying out a labour-intensive program being folded into NSP (National Solidarity Programme). The purpose of the program is to support economic recovery using labour-intensive mechanism to improve selected rural infrastructure. It will target secondary roads in all 32 provinces. By April 2003, approximately 75,000 families have benefited from 7 8

cash for work activities under this project. The Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and UNOPS are expanding the cash for work opportunities, providing a total of $25 millions additional funds (through NSP) to rural communities by late 2003.

Kabul City daily labourers: There are city daily wagers who are hired by individuals to carry out some of the private and government construction works at homes, markets, shops, public buildings, digging wells, painting and farming. The daily wage is between 100 and 300 Afs depending on the type of work.

Northern Region: General Situation: According to the government employees and others, the general employment situation especially in the government sector has not had much improvement.

Women’s situation: The situation for women has changed after the Taliban regime, and they can find jobs in governmental departments. There are a number of single women heading their families in need of jobs, but they are not qualified enough to work in the offices. The Department of Women’s Affairs has so far registered about 400 of such women attending training courses to enable them to get jobs. The Government Social Development Department is also conducting a carpet-weaving course for them.

Government Sector: In the past year the government has cut 30 percent of the staff. The average salary of a government employee is about 1,700 Afs with no advance or insurance, and delayed payment of salaries. The government employees say their salary is not sufficient to meet their basic needs. The salaries are paid mostly with a delay of 2 to 3 months.

MRRD: The DRRD has a plan for social development that will cover 16 districts in Balkh, Samangan and Sar-I-Pul provinces to provide job opportunities, especially for the disabled, and as a substitute for poppy cultivation. The plan includes the rebuilding of schools and clinics, roads rehabilitation, and water supply, providing jobs for at least 50,000 daily labourers. The current road rehabilitation work in Zare, a district in Balkh province, which is to be completed in 4 months, has created jobs for 25,000 workers, earning $2 (unskilled), and $7 (skilled) per day.

In Baghlan, nearly 15,000 people, including factory workers, are working in government departments, earning $35 per month. 25% of these are women, who mainly work as teachers. Most of the 50 private companies are based in Pul-I-Khumri. Many returnees are investing in building markets or clinics. Baghlan is an agricultural area and work can be found in the farms.

In Kunduz, government departments have 280 male and 260 female staff (teachers not included), with salaries of 1,600 to 1,700 Afs a month, which is not enough for a family’s basic needs. The daily wage for workers in two private (carpet weaving and metal sheet) companies is 80 to 100 Afs per day. Many returnees are unemployed, and work on projects such as road rehabilitation is not permanent.

In Faryab, government departments employ 5,600 people, including teachers, with salaries (including allowances) of 1,650 to 1,800 Afs. 90% of women are unemployed. About 500

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women are working in embroidery and quilt production projects in Maimana. 800 labourers work in Acted’s project. Of the 40 private companies in the province only 5 are functioning.

Private Sector: Shopkeepers are paying 50 to 200 $ (2,400 – 9,600Afs.) per month rent, and have to have about $6,000 (288,000 Afs.) asset to start with, and earn about $200 to 300 (9,600 – 14,400 Afs.) per month. Ordinary shopkeepers like a carpenter, tinsmiths and skilled labourers earn about 6,000 Afs per month, that is just enough for their basic needs. A skilled labourer, for instance a mason, can usually find work for 8 to 10 days a month, earning 300 to 500 Afs per day.

UN and NGOs: About 315 national staff is working for UN in the northern region with an average salary of about $500 per month in 11 UN agencies and a number of other International NGOs.

Southern Region: General Situation: Some employment opportunities have been created by the Department of Social Affairs (DSA), UNDP and other Agencies, but there are still many jobless people in the southern provinces. About 1,500 people (with 10% women) in Kandahar and 3,500 peoples in other provinces in the region, including doctors, engineers, clerks, translators, drivers, electricians and mechanics are looking for jobs in government departments.

Government Sector: Last year, 601 male and 85 female staff, and 1,220 male and 305 female workers were recruited in government departments and the textile factory in Kandahar. Their recruitment was facilitated by the Department of Social Affairs.

UN and NGOs: More than 1,000 labourers are employed by the NGOs working in the refugee camps, 8,000 labours are working in the city and rural areas in Kandahar for $2 per day under Recovery and Employment Afghanistan Program- REAP, funded by UNDP. About 1,000 women in Kandahar City are being trained in embroidery, tailoring etc. by the department of Social Affairs and Women Association, financially supported by UNDP. Under this programme, the trainers are getting $5, and trainees 2$ per day. UNDP is planing to expand the labour employment projects to Zabul and Uruzgan provinces as well.

Private Sector: Nearly 400 skilled and unskilled labourers, including deportees from Iran, IDPs coming from Heart and returnees are looking for daily work. 50% of them succeed in finding daily work for survival, mostly for two days a week. Almost 25% of labourers in Kandahar are IDPs from neighbouring provinces, mainly from Herat. Others, including returnees, when they do not find jobs, sell their household items or go back to Pakistan or Iran.

Average Salary and Daily Wage: Average monthly salary of government employees is 1,700 Afs., usually with a delay of months. Daily wage for skilled labourers is between 200 to 400 Afs., and for the unskilled 80 to 120 Afs.

South-eastern Region: Government Sector: The government offices in Paktia are 90% staffed, and at present about 4,000 people are working in the government departments; 3,000 in Khost, and a minimal number 9 10

of them in Paktika. The average salary of a government employee in Paktia and Paktika is about (1,700) Afs.

Women Situation: Educated women have an easy access to work, and at present about 100 women are working in the health, education, Social Employment and women associated offices. More than of 97% women are uneducated in Paktia and work at home. In Paktika, their families do not allow them to work outside. In Khost, women have easy access to work in education, women’s association, health and some other departments, while a large number do housework.

Private Sector: In rural area of Paktia, most of the people work on their lands. Some send their young family members to Pakistan and Arab countries for work. In urban areas, people sell fruits, vegetables etc on roadsides or work as daily labourers. Paktika is a mountainous area, and a small number of its residents are busy with forest work, and a few of them are working in India, Pakistan and other countries. Daily wages for skilled labour in Khost, Paktia and Paktika vary between 250 – 350 Afs., while for unskilled labour it is between 100 - 120 Afs.

UN agencies and NGOs: A small number of labourers in Paktia and Paktika are employed by UNHCR / UNAMA, UNOPS, CARE International, IRC and few others, (with a daily wage of USD 2 in Paktika) - a small number are employed by UNOPS under the road rehabilitation activities.

Eastern Region: General Situation: The overall employment situation is not very good in the region. Government salaries are very low and are usually delayed for months. According to the government employees, their salaries are not sufficient to cover even their one-week essential needs.

Most women are illiterate because of lack opportunities for the girls’ education in the country before 2002. There are few educated women working with the government, the UN agencies and NGOs in the region.

Private Sector: Many traders and businessmen returning from the countries of asylum are involved in constructional activities, creating limited job opportunities for daily labourers, mainly in Jalalabad City with an average wage of 200 Afs per day.

Government and UN projects: UNDP is funding the “Cash for Work” project (REEP), benefiting more than 4,200 returnees and IDPs. The government employees’ average salary is 1,600 Afs per month, with a payment delay of two or three months.

There are also other projects run by UN and other international agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, Habitat and Madera. WHO and UNICEF are supporting the Public health department of Nangarhar in carrying out vaccination campaign, providing a number of people with job opportunities for $2 per day.

The Municipality is working on a 5-story building and a conference hall for government conferences, using their own budget and employing more than 100 people. About 60% of the 10 11

constructional work has been completed so far. Habitat has rehabilitated the building of the Nangarhar municipality, which provided more job opportunities for the citizens.

Many people are involved in daily common businesses like selling vegetables, plastic items, sandals, clothes etc. There is no job opportunity in the villages, and most people are engaged in agriculture.

Western Region: General Situation: There are limited employment possibilities in Herat. A number of people work for the government, UN and other aid agencies or private companies.

The establishment of the new industrial town and a few factories in the city of Heart will create jobs for qualified persons and labourers. At present, there are some vacant posts within the government offices, which require qualified candidates.

Government Sector: According to the Herat Labour and Social Affairs Department, graduates of the 12th grade in Herat can be locally recruited by government departments, while graduates of university/college have to be recruited through Kabul. Returnees (refugee and IDP) are also to be recruited through the central government in Kabul.

In Badghis province, 2,165 people work for government departments, and apparently there is no need for more staff. Graduates of grades 9 and 10 are locally recruited.

In the Ghore province, 5,630 employees (with very few recent recruitment) are working in government departments. According to Ghor officials, there is a need for more staff, which depends on the next years’ budget.

The salary scale in the region is between 1,000 to 1,800Afs. Government employees, in addition to receiving salaries, have coupons for food and non-food items in Herat province, which is not the case in Badghis and Ghor. The salary given by the government though can not meet the basic requirements of a family, it is considered as continuous income to rely on.

Private sector: In recent years, a few small factories like biscuit production and shoe making have been established in Herat that help create job opportunities for unskilled labourers. Many others are hired in shops, export and import companies and money exchange centres. The salaries are 40 to 150 USD (1,920 to 7,200 Afs) per month, depending on the type of work.

In the city of Herat the wage for an unskilled labourer is 70Afs per day and for the skilled between 100 to 200Afs, while in Badghis province daily wage for the unskilled worker is 70 – 100 Afs, and for the skilled 300 to 400 Afs.

Some are employed the customs department, and some others are hired in road and pavement construction in and around the city.

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In Ghor province, most people are working on their agriculture fields, which is the main source of income. The daily wage for the unskilled labourer is 70 to 100Afs per day, and for the skilled 400Afs to 800Afs per day, as there is a shortage of skilled labourers in this province.

UN and NGO offices: There are 12 UN offices and 39 national and international NGOs working in the region. A significant number of people are hired by these agencies, including labourers in “cash for work” and “food for work” projects.

The local authorities are trying to persuade those working for NGOs and other organisations, particularly former teachers, to work in schools and universities, as there is a need for professional teachers.

In Ghor province, these agencies hire workers for emergency projects. There are very few skilled workers.

Women and Employment: In Herat and Badghis, there is no longer restriction from the local authorities on women working either in government departments or in UN agencies and NGOs. In Ghor province, a few women are working in government departments and UN/NGO offices.

UNHCR/BBC Radio Programme: There is a joint BBC/UNHCR radio programme specifically aimed at Afghan refugees, IDPs and returnees. The programme deals with the situation in Afghanistan, including security, development activities of the Afghan government, United Nations and other aid agencies, and the difficulties that the Afghans, especially returnees, are facing. The BBC radio programme is part of UNHCR’s efforts to provide an accurate account of the situation in Afghanistan to those wishing to return home, and to offer a forum for a wider debate on all aspects of repatriation and reintegration.

The programme is broadcast from Saturday to Wednesday (5 Days a week): • 1st edition: 0730 to 800 GMT = 1100 to 1130 Iran time, 1200 to 1230 Afghan time, and 1230 to 1300 Pakistan time.

• 2nd edition: 12.00 to 1230 GMT = 1530 to 1600 Iran time, 1630 to 1700 Afghan time and 1700 to 1730 Pakistan time.

The programmes are broadcast on Short wave frequencies of 15420 kHz (19-meter band, and 17870 kHz (16-meter band).

The programme has a section for the listeners’ letters. If you have any comments or questions please write to the following addresses. The BBC will include them in the programme:

• Afghanistan: BBC, Post Box No. 1, Central Post Office, Kabul, Afghanistan. • Pakistan: BBC, Post Box 255, University Town, Peshawar, Pakistan. • Iran: UNHCR (BBC) – P.O.Box No. 91775 – 1876, Mashhad, Iran.

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UNHCR/ARTV Radio Programme: UNHCR has also a joint radio programme with Afghanistan Radio and TV, “Coming Home”, as part of its mass Information efforts. The programme is broadcast on Sundays and Fridays (2 days a week) at 9:00pm for 30 minutes in Dari and Pashto languages.

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Questionnaire: The aim of this information update is to provide refugees, IDPs and returnees with accurate information on the situation inside Afghanistan and other related issues. You are kindly requested to reply to the following questions. You can cut this piece from here and return it to the near-by UNHCR office or its staff in your camp or area:

Question No. 1: Do you think information of this update is useful to you? Answer: Yes. No.

Question No. 2: If your reply to the above question as yes, please explain why? Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Question No. 3: What kinds of information you would like to read in this update in the future? Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

For More Information Contact Solmaz Dabiri on (0093) 070276000, E-mail: [email protected]

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