: Returnee Crisis Situation Report No. 3 (as of 26 November 2016)

This report is produced by OCHA Afghanistan in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 1 to 26 November 2016. The next report will be issued on or around 10 December 2016. Highlights

• Since January 2016, more than 601,850 undocumented TAJIKISTAN returnees (232,566) and registered refugees (369,285) have CHINA returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Of these, 93% TURKMENISTAN North (560,003) have returned since July, representing an increase Northern 61K Eastern of 1,250% from the period January to June. 1 24K Eastern Jammu Islam Qala 136K 306K & • In the last week the average daily return of registered Central Kashmir Highland 1.9K Kabul Torkham refugees and undocumented returnees has slowed to 420 Western

and 500 respectively from highs of 4,700 and 1,260 in IRAN 25k South October. Eastern PAKISTAN Milak - Zaranj 7.7K • Southern A HEAT assessment of 1,580 undocumented returnee Spin INDIA Boldak families in Kabul has identified 519 families in need of Estimated number of returnees humanitarian assistance. While data analysis is ongoing, by intended region of return initial findings suggest that 45 families are living under tents Source: UNHCR & IOM or plastic sheeting. In Batikot district an NCRO-led HEAT The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this assessment has surveyed 700 undocumented returnee map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United families, while an additional 900 have been assessed to date Nations. in . • The deadline for undocumented Afghans in Pakistan to have acquired documentation or returned to Afghanistan came and went on 15 November 2016 with no action taken by the authorities. Reports of harassment and intimidation continue but not to the same extent as in earlier months. A proposal to extend Proof of Registration (PoR) cards until the end of 2017 as well as register the undocumented in Pakistan is before the Pakistani Cabinet and will be voted on in the coming weeks. • All available slots at UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Centres in Pakistan for Pakistani refugees to deregister (65,000) in the month of November have been filled. Pending formal approval with the Government of Afghanistan, refugees will have until 15 December to return to Afghanistan with assistance provided through the voluntary repatriation grant, after which UNHCR Encashment Centres (EC) will be closed until 28 February 2017. IOM facilities both at Zero Point and the Transit Centre will remain open during this period. • The Eastern Region HEAT assessment report was issued on 23 November 2016. The report, which summarises findings related to the needs of almost 6,000 returnee families, can be accessed at the following link: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan. Financial Update

The Afghanistan Flash Appeal has so far received Flash Appeal Funding pledged and confirmed contributions totaling USD 82.4 million, against overall requirements of USD 152 Requirements US$152m million. The Health, WASH and nutrition clusters have yet to receive any funding against requested amounts. Pledged and Confirmed Pledged Outstanding US$53.5m US$28.9m US$69.6m confirmed CERF Rapid Response funds totaling USD 10 million 54% 46% have been approved and disbursed to IOM, WFP, UNHCR, UNMAS, UNFPA and WHO.

1 This figure includes undocumented Afghans who have been deported via the Torkham and Spin Boldak borders.

+ For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Afghanistan Emergency Situation Report No. 3 | 2

Situation Overview

GoIRA structure for the returnee response has been set and will be retained under the Chairmanship of CEO Dr. Abdullah and an Executive Council involving participation from the UN and Government agencies. Three Working Groups – Finance, Technical and Policy – have been established to support the further streamlining of the response. The Policy Committee will be supported in their role by the Deputy National Security Advisor, UNHCR and IOM; the Technical Committee by Arazi, UNHCR, UN Habitat and UNAMA rule of law; and the Financial Committee by the Ministry of Finance, the World Bank and UNHCR. The 30 November has been set for preliminary planning issues to be agreed.

The President has stipulated that Arazi will be responsible for land allocation, a departure from the existing mechanism which also sees MoRR have a role. The main aim of the Technical Committee will be to overcome existing bureaucratic impediments to long-term issues such as land allocation and data management, as well as significantly increase the capacity of the Tasfiya team, which currently only has 8 staff members nationwide.

Estimated number of returnees by intended province of return

TAJIKISTAN Fayzabad TAJIKISTAN

JAWZJAN Mazar-e-Sharif KUNDUZ Shiberghan 1.7K 3.3K Kunduz Taloqan 5.9K 7.7K 24K 2.7K BADAKHSHAN TAKHAR

Aybak Sar-e-Pul 3.7K 1.9K

SAMANGAN Pul-e-Khumri 2.9K 27K

BAGHLAN SAR-E-PUL PANJSHER Poruns Bazarak NURISTAN BAMYAN KUNAR Mahmud-e-Raqi Charikar Asadabad 3.5K KAPISA 14K GHOR Bamyan PARWAN LAGHMAN 5.7K Mehtarlam KABUL CHINA 9.4K PAKISTAN TAJIKISTAN 29K 22K TURKMENISTAN Kabul 152K Maydanshahr 75K 1.2K 103K IRAN LOGAR WARDAK Kabul 3K Pul-e-Alam NANGARHAR Torkham AFGHANISTANDAYKUNDI 21K Estimated number of returnees by PAKTYA Nili PAKISTAN intended province of return 1K Gardez Undocumented returnees INDIA GHAZNI Ghazni 19K KHOST Refugee returnees

Undocumented Afghan returnees * Registered Afghan refugee returnees

125k 2015 2016 125k 2015 2016 Number of returnees Number of returnees Projected for 2016 145 100k Projected for 2016 171 100k

75k 75k

50k 50k 228 364 25k 126 25k 30 12 62 46 49 79 55 k k 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Source: IOM (undocumented returnees, as of 13 Nov 2016), UNHCR (registered refugee returnees, as of 13 Nov 2016) * Figures include deportees from Pakistan.

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Humanitarian Response: Reporting by Clusters

ES/NFI Needs:

• Taking into account returnee households already assisted, 610 HHs remain in need of NFIs; 101 HHs in need of a tent; 1,766 HHs in need of cash for rent and 1,941 US$ 21.3 mil HHs in need of winterisation support. required to support the ES-NFI needs of Response: returnee populations • IRC has provided cash for NFIs for 2,362 HHs and tents for 102 HHs in , along with cash for NFIs for 96 HHs in Khost. • NRC has provided 571 HHs with tents and winterisation assistance in Nangarhar; currently, they have plans to assist a further 2,000 – 3,200 HHs with cash for NFIs and winterisation support in the Eastern Region. Gaps & Constraints: • Access to insecure areas, including Darai Nur, Dur Baba, Goshta, Hesarak, Lal Pur, Momand Dara, and Yegobi districts in Nangarhar province, is preventing partners from conducting assessments and initiating a response. • Assessment findings are challenged by the absence of a tracking system which can identify returnees settling in other parts of the country.

Food Security & Agriculture Needs: • The FSAC cluster has recently completed a field mission to Ghawchak and Kabul 481,600 Hada in Jalalabad where it met with 5 undocumented returnee families. Qualitative returnee populations reports indicate that many households have yet to be provided with food and other can be supported for a forms of humanitarian assistance. period of two months based on funding Response: already secured by • To date, only WFP and Save the Children have commenced distributions to FSAC partners undocumented returnee populations. WFP has distributed a one month food ration to 75,992 people at the IOM Transit Centre while Save the Children has supported 1,400 people in Jalalabad, Mohmand Dara, Kuzkunar and Rodat districts of Nangarhar province through cash for food. Overall, 33% (77,392) of undocumented returnees have received food assistance. • DRC and NRC are planning cash for food distributions for 1,200 and 3,200 undocumented returnee families respectively; DRC will assist families in of Nangarhar. In the case of clear gaps, PIN has indicated that they can provide cash for food to 100 to 200 families; Oxfam is also planning similar support.

Gaps & Constraints:

• Partners continue to note significant challenges in identifying and locating undocumented returnees, as well as deciding upon the most transparent transfer modality against which cash disbursements can be delivered.

Health Needs: • A recent assessment of 20 health facilities across Nangarhar province has US$ 5.4 mil highlighted an urgent need for a First Aid Trauma Post (FATP) to be established required to meet the at Sultan Poor Community Health Clinic, which has received an average of 182 health needs of returnee trauma cases each month over the last six months. WHO have indicated that they populations will be able to fund establishment of the FATP within their budget. Enhanced primary health care services for acute respiratory infection, diarrheal diseases, TB, hypertension and diabetes is also required following reports of high incident rates among returnee populations.

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• A total of 5 outbreaks (3 measles and 2 Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever) have been reported in Behsud and Rodat districts bringing the total number of cases of measles to 21, and highlighting the need to conduct awareness campaigns on disease prevention and control in returnee concentrated locations. • A joint ECHO-WHO mission to Nangarhar province has identified a need for an increased number of Mobile Health Team (MHT) visits to Gambiri and Khairokhil returnee settlements, up until mid-November only taking place 5 times a month, along with installation of a Platelet Segregation machine in Jalalabad Regional hospital. Response: • Pneumonia kits have been distributed to BPHS partners in Dangam and Chapa dara Narai in ; WHO has also distributed two A+B pneumonia kits to CWS Afghanistan covering 700 potential pneumonia cases in Gambiri and Khairokhil in . • A UNFPA/WHO supported emergency health center at ZP has been functioning with direct implementation from AADA since the beginning of November. • As of 15 November, MHTs are visiting Gambiri and Khairokhil three times a week.

Gaps & Constraints: • Space constraints at Zero Point and the IOM Transit Centre have been reported to be inhibiting service delivery (due to a lack of truck parking space), supply storage and staff accommodation. High rates of staff turnover at ZP and an insufficient number of female staff are also a cause for concern. • Designation of a single site and common service manager at ZP is required in order to manage, coordinate and oversee the provision of health services. • A shortage of key medicines, including antibiotics, antipyretics, analgesics, bronchodilators and antihistamines have been reported by AADA in some locations pointing to a lack of supply chain management.

Nutrition Needs: • Based on current projections, an estimated 57,000 undocumented returnee and 36,538 registered refugee children are under the age of 5 and should receive vitamin A children and women supplementation, while 33,000 are between 2 and 5 and should receive deworming have received treatment by the end of the year. emergency nutrition • These 57,000 children under 5 will also require screening to identify and refer acute assistance malnutrition cases, with an expectation that around 550 children will be identified as severely malnourished and 1,600 children moderately malnourished. Response: • At ZP, UNICEF and AADA have provided 1,887 children under five with Vitamin A supplementation, 1,390 children between 2 and 5 with deworming tablets and 463 women with IYCF counselling. 2,030 children have been screened for acute malnutrition, with 39 identified as suffering from SAM (1.9%) and 79 MAM (3.9%) and referred for treatment. • At the IOM TC, 1,604 children under five received Vitamin A supplementation, 1,283 children between 2 and 5 received deworming tablets, 685 children were screened for acute malnutrition with 25 identified with SAM (3.6%) and 26 with MAM (3.8%) and referred for treatment. • At the UNHCR EC in Nangarhar, 622 children under 5 received Vitamin A supplementation; 449 children between 2 and 5 deworming tablets and 653 children were screened for acute malnutrition with 10 children were identified as SAM (1.5%) and 20 children as MAM (3%) and referred for treatment. • In Puli-e-Charkhi EC Centre in Kabul, the MoPH/PND with support from UNICEF is providing nutrition services to documented returnees. To date, 20,055 children under 5 have received Vitamin A supplementation, 13,102 have received deworming tablets and 11,907 women and caretakers of children under 2 have received IYCF counselling. Overall, 14,948 children have been screened for acute malnutrition. Of these, 217 have been identified with SAM (1.4%) and 582 children with MAM (3.9%), all of whom have been referred for treatment.

Gaps & Constraints: • Overall, more girls have been identified with acute malnutrition than boys (178 girls vs 112 boys with SAM and 428 girls vs 279 boys with MAM); nutrition cluster partners are following up to establish the reasons why and to take corrective measures as necessary. • There is a need to provide nutrition services to returnees coming through the Spin Boldak border.

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Protection Needs: • The Eastern Region Protection Cluster has completed data collection across 42 US$ 5 mil villages in six districts in Nangarhar province aimed at identifying the main required to provide protection risks associated with returns. Overall, some 395 Focus Group protection assistance Discussions involving 4,468 people have been conducted with age and gender to registered refugees segregated representatives from undocumented returnee, registered returnee, IDP, and undocumented and host-communities. The final report will be published towards the end of returnees November. Preliminary findings are as follows: − The large scale influx is increasing the prevalence and severity of land disputes, however relations between hosting and IDP/returnee communities are generally positive (indicated in 79% of FGDs). − Access to water is problematic in many of the communities surveyed. − Around 25% of registered refugees and 22% of undocumented returnee households report that no family member possesses a tazkera. In some FGDs, respondents noted bribes as essential to obtaining one. − In 68% of FGDs a lack of privacy was reported with a specific concern voiced by women living in tents. − An overwhelming majority of the FGDs with women and girls highlight cultural barriers as the main obstacle for reporting (sexual) violence against women and girls (neglect, ostracism, physical violence and killings were noted as possible consequences of reporting (sexual) violence against women outside of the family). − In almost two thirds of female FGDs, early marriage was reported as a possibility with male FGDs (40%) voicing similar concerns. − The majority of FGDs reported that children are engaged in various forms of labour, including bringing stones from outlying areas to sell to construction companies rubbish collection and small scale shop keeping. − Assessors of child FGDs reported high levels of distress amongst especially undocumented returnee and, to a lesser extent, IDP groups. − Mine (anti-tank) and ERW contamination is reported in the Baba Shahib land allocation site in Mihterlam district of Laghman Province. − The GBV sub-cluster reports a need for further training of healthcare providers on identification and treatment-protocols for GBV-survivors.

Response: • At the IOM TC, 288 boys and 229 girls were received at the UNICEF established Child Friendly Spaces within the reporting period, while 542 boys and 606 girls were received at the UNHCR EC. • Preparation is underway by TABISH and UNICEF to establish 60 community-based Child Friendly Spaces in high-return areas. • The UNICEF-led process of identification and selection of 40 (20 male and 20 female) volunteers in the Gambiri Islamdara returnee site has been completed and training on child protection and care is planned. • UNHCR have reached approximately 700 refugee returnee women with female rights and GBV awareness- raising sessions at the Jalalabad EC, with at least 44 women referred for follow-up action by specialised actors. • IMC has registered 69 GBV cases between early October and mid-November, with the majority being physical and/or psychological violence. IMC also continues to conduct monitoring visits to health clinics to strengthen the identification and referral system for GBV survivors, already improved by the establishment of a community center in Khiwa/Kaz Kunar district of Nangarhar province. • UNFPA/AADA have provided psycho-social counseling to 172 individuals (79 women and girls and 93 boys and men) within the reporting period. • WAW convened women theatre sessions targeting 25-30 women and girls in high return areas such as Qalatak and Gurik villages of Kuz Kunar district. • In a new initiative, 84 women and 113 men, mostly undocumented returnees participated in community-based awareness raising sessions organised by DRC on violence against women, basic human rights, inheritance law, dispute resolution, and family law. • Approximately, 4,000 individuals have received community-based Mine Risk Education from OMAR, HALO Trust and TdH, while DDG provided Mine Risk Education at the UNHCR ECs. Since 9 November, DDG deployed an eight person team to provide MRE to undocumented returnees at ZP. • Two land allocation sites (Kanikay in Behsud district of Nangarhar province and Baba Shahib in Mihterlam district of Laghman province) have been surveyed for mine/ERW contamination. Kanikay was found to be of relatively low concern, however Baba Shahib requires considerable further clearance operations.

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• NRC conducted HLP trainings for 318 relevant staff on Inheritance Law, Property Law and Community Dispute Resolution and organised community sensitisation sessions on HLP and Civil documentation for 140 individuals. • In the reporting period NRC registered 27 property dispute cases and closed 16. Cases related to civil documentation numbered 36 (45 affected individuals) and were all resolved.

Gaps & Constraints:

• Khairo Khail in Qarghayee district of Laghman province – considered as a relocation site for returnees – is currently inaccessible for survey by demining teams due to a land dispute between the local government and local community which is reported to be hostile to the settlement of returnees. • It is estimated that the clearance of the Baba Shahib site in Mihterlam district of Laghman Province will take between 3 to 5 months and will cost approximately USD 600,000. Currently no funding is available from UNMAS, bilateral Mine Action donors or the government to clear this area. • A weak landscape of service providers and grass root organisations, particularly in Psychological First Aid, is hampering a broad and efficient response to individuals and families with specific needs through referrals.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Needs: • Following completion of the HEAT assessment, WASH partners have conducted US$ 4 mil 10 sectoral assessments in the Eastern Region and 4 in Kabul confirming required to meet the moderate to severe WASH needs. Initial findings indicate that over 65% of emergency WASH returnee families living with host communities or in rented accommodation have needs of undocumented access to water from local wells or pumps, but that additional burden is being returnees and registered placed on existing water sources as a result. Over 60% of families also reported refugees inadequate water storage and hygiene materials. • There is a need for continuous support in maintaining the WASH facilities at ZP and Spin Boldak, including consumables, cleaners and hygiene promoters.

Response: • Over the past two weeks an average of 3,300 undocumented returnees have been provided with access to women and children friendly WASH facilities at ZP and the IOM TC. • To date, a total of 4,113 returnee families (30,572 people) have received hygiene kits from UNICEF, DACAAR and IMC; nearly all assessed families are either being responded to or plans are in place to support soon. • 1,494 returnee families (10,461 people) are benefiting from safe drinking water provided through water trucking in Nangarhar and Kabul provinces through DACAAR and UNICEF support. IMC and ZOA are finalising plans to provide WASH services to 4,300 returnee families in Behsud district, also benefiting some host communities.

Gaps & Constraints : • Government restrictions in drilling boreholes in informal returnee settlements presents a major challenge in Ghambiri and Khairo Khil districts. In Ghambiri, UNICEF and DACAAR have committed to supporting returnee families with water tanking due to lack of alternative options. • Despite HEAT findings which indicate that over 70% of undocumented returnee families lack adequate hygiene and water storage at their place of settlement, only 25% of undocumented returnee are currently receiving hygiene kits from cluster partners at the IOM Transit Centre. WASH partners should consider increasing the coverage of WASH relief items at the point of entry in response.

Refugee & Returnee Needs: • Returnee monitoring of Afghan refugees has shown that the level of harassment 410,000 has slowed in the last few weeks, however lack of access to employment registered refugees are opportunities and the fear of arrest, intimidation and harassment continue to be the expected to have arrived main factors leading to return. in Afghanistan by the Response: end of 2016

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• IOM commenced post-arrival assistance in Spin Boldak and the Kandahar city TC on 14 November; so far 1,281 undocumented returnees have been assisted. A monitoring mission to Spin Boldak will be conducted from 27-29 November. • WFP SCOPE registration of undocumented returnees commenced at ZP and the IOM TC on 6 November; MoRR e-registration of undocumented returnees, supported by IOM, began on 15 November. Discussions are underway on integrating the MoRR Afghan Returnee Information System (ARIS) and WFP SCOPE registration systems and processes. • Services at UNHCR ECs have been scaled up to meet the increased needs including emergency health services, vaccines, mine risk awareness, nutrition screening, child friendly spaces, legal advice and other services. • Protection monitoring is ongoing to determine return trends, push/pull factors and specific needs for vulnerable individuals. Gaps & Constraints: • Provision of services at the community level during the winter months particularly to returnees living in severe cold weather areas and at high altitude are a major concern. • Insufficient funding poses the main challenge to continued support to registered refugees.

Education Needs:

• An education-specific survey interviewing 379 people, including parents and key school informants, has been completed in Khewa, Jalalabad, Behsud, Surkhrod 60% and Kama districts to better inform the needs of formal schools and communities in of returnees are children areas hosting large numbers of IDPs and returnees. The survey found that almost in need of education 40% of returnees were not enrolled in school and 49% were not in close proximity (within 3km walking distance) to a formal school. Early marriage and child labour were the two top risks faced by affected children that stopped them from accessing or completing education.

Response: • NSTR.

Gaps & Constraints: • NSTR.

Background on the crisis Some 601,580 Afghans have returned from Pakistan in 2016, with a significant spike seen since mid-July following continued pressure by Pakistani authorities through new visa requirements, shorter extension of proof of registration cards, increased police raids, detentions and deportations, restricted access to livelihoods, health care and education as well as lack of employment opportunities. IOM and UNHCR are providing support to both caseloads, but both require additional resources to meet the growing needs. Undertaking assessments in areas of high return has been complicated by the lack of a digitised registration system for undocumented returnees which makes traceability once they leave the border possible. To mitigate this, aid agencies have been working with community elders to verify reports and locations of returnee families in order to provide life-saving shelter, food, nutrition, health and WASH support.

Registered returning refugees hold a Proof of Registration (PoR) card valid until 31 March 2017 which guarantees rights in line with international refugee law. Since March 2002, the return of Afghan refugees is facilitated by UNHCR through the Voluntary Repatriation Centers in Pakistan. Assistance and a cash grant is provided at four Encashment Centres in Afghanistan (Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar, Herat), while operational partners including UNICEF, WHO, MoRR and Ministry of Education provide emergency health services, vaccines, mine risk awareness and information on land, civil documentation and education.

Undocumented returnees are Afghans residing in Pakistan without a formal registration card (PoR) denoting refugee status. This may be either due to their non-participation in registration exercises, failure to keep their registration status updated or arrival after registration processes have concluded. Many Afghan returnee families are a mixture of both refugees (i.e. heads of households) and undocumented (women and children). Undocumented returnees are registered by MoRR and assisted by IOM and other humanitarian partners at the IOM- managed transit sites in Torkham and Kandahar where they receive post arrival assistance according to their assessed vulnerability.

Deportees are individuals removed by State authorities through judicial or administrative procedures.

For further information, please contact: Dominic Parker, Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan, [email protected] , Cell +93 790 3001 101 Charlotte Ashley, Deputy Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan, [email protected] , Cell +93 793 001 128

For more information, please visit www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

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