Afghanistan: Returnee Crisis Situation Report No. 9 (as of 20 April 2017)
This report is produced by OCHA Afghanistan in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 22 March to 20 April 2017. The next report will be issued on or around 15 May 2017. Highlights
• Since 1 January, the total number of undocumented Estimated returnees by intended region of return returnees arriving from Pakistan has risen to 33,026, a 50% increase on those who returned in the same period in 2016 (22,207). • Following the re-opening of Torkham and Spin Boldak borders on 20 March, a notable spike in undocumented Islam Qala
returnees has been observed, with 23,419 Afghans returning Torkham (as of 15 April)—more than two thirds (71%) of those who have crossed into Afghanistan since the beginning of the year. Milak - Zaranj Spin • Boldak UNHCR’s voluntary repatriation operation resumed on 3 April Estimated number of returnees following a three and a half months winter pause. So far, by intended region of return 5,235 registered refugees have returned from Pakistan, a Source: UNHCR & IOM (1 Jan 2016 – 8 April 2017) 65% increase on those who returned in the same period in The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this 2016. Returns from Pakistan represent 95% of all refugee document do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. returns (5,508) in 2017. • Findings from the first round of IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) launched in January indicate that 1 person in 5 across Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces is a returnee (544,364 people out of a total base population of 2,456,500). The findings, which are based on data collected between January and March 2017 from 1,368 settlements across 42 districts in the three highest rate of return provinces, will enable the humanitarian community to better understand the needs and intentions of returnee families both at the border and once they have reached their final destinations, as well as identify gaps and assess the efficacy of assistance provided. • On 3 April, protection monitoring teams based at the UNHCR Encashment Centres conducted interviews with new arrivals (1,591 registered returnees) from Pakistan using the revised UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). The form, which was revised in March, will provide more in-depth information about return trends, motivating factors and the situation of refugees during the return journey. Interviewed refugees expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by UNHCR, particularly the US$ 200 one-time cash grant but raised concerns about how long the money would last before they found employment opportunities. • The Ministry of Education, UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children and the EiEWG visited UNHCR’s Encashment Centre in Kabul on 28 March. Staff at the Encashment Centre informed the visiting agencies that the majority of returnees from Pakistan are unaware of existing education opportunities for their children and that no education information is available at the Centre. UNICEF is preparing a small scale funding agreement for provision of education information to returnee families at the Encashment Centres in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul through its local implementing partner - WADAN. Financial Update
So far this year, the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) has HRP 2017 Requirements received a total of USD 112 million in pledges and confirmed $ 240M $ 550M contributions, representing 20% of overall requirements. To date, Returnee & returnee Total pledges have been confirmed against the protection (USD 11 44% requirements requirements million), ES-NFI (USD 5.5 million), WASH (USD 1.6 million) and Health Clusters (USD 1 million). The remaining USD 92.9 million is going through a reconciliation and verification process with donors and recipient agencies to identify the sectors against which these funds should be allocated.
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Situation Overview
In mid-March, the Displacement and Returns Executive Committee (DiREC) and National Cabinet endorsed a comprehensive Action Plan to accompany the Policy Framework on IDPs and Returnees adopted in January. Efforts will focus on six key response areas, including: the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance, documentation, access to basic services, land allocation and adequate housing. A costing exercise outlining the financial requirements of each goal is being finalised by the Finance Working Group, along with a reporting matrix by the Reporting Working Group. On 11 April, DiREC also approved a draft Technical Procedure for the Provision of Land to Returnees and IDPs to replace Presidential Decree 104. The draft procedure covers three main areas: the identification of suitable land; beneficiary selection and eligibility criteria; and the allocation of land. The Pakistan Humanitarian Country Team visited Kabul in March with the aim of understanding issues surrounding the return of refugees and undocumented Afghans from Pakistan. Meetings were held with donors, NGOs and the Afghan HCT. To support common positions in matters of policy and advocacy, a cross-border HCT Working Group was proposed to ensure structured and regular information sharing and to develop common positions for messaging.
Returnee trends (2012-2016)
Undocumented Afghan returnees * Registered Afghan refugee returnees
Number of returnees 150k Number of returnees 150k 2015 2016 2017 Projected for 2017 Projected for 2017 2015 2016 125k 125k
100k 100k
75k 548 375 75k 50k 370 50k 248 25k 25k 126 25 30 12 62 46 49 79 55 2 k k 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Source: IOM (undocumented returnees, as of 8 Apr 2017), UNHCR (registered refugee returnees, as of 8 Apr 2017) * Figures include deportees from Pakistan. IOM DTM Round 1 results for returnees in Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar Provinces
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Humanitarian Response: Reporting by Clusters
ES/NFI Needs: • On 14 March, NRC assessed the needs of 1,500 returnee families in Surkhrod and Behsud districts of Nangarhar province and in Mehtarlam district of Laghman 185,335 province. 499 families were found to be in need of winterisation support, NFIs and returnees are being shelter. assisted through ongoing • Between 14 March and 5 April, IRC assessed 628 returnee families in Behsud, ES/NFI activities Surkhrod and Jalalabad city, in Nangarhar. All households assessed were in need of NFIs and shelter.
Response: • NRC assisted 159 returnee families with cash for winterisation in Behsud and Surkhrod districts in Nangarhar, while 271 families were assisted with cash to cover both NFIs and winterisation needs in Mehtarlam district in Laghman. Meanwhile, support is underway for the construction of one-room permanent shelter for 69 families in Surkhrod. • IRC assisted 557 families with cash for NFIs and 71 families with cash for rent in Behsud, Surkhrod and Jalalabad city in Nangarhar while 63 families were assisted with winterisation kits in Gardez City in Paktia. • Between 20 and 25 March, DRC provided unconditional cash to 326 families and cash for winterisation to 19 families in Shinwari district in Nangarhar.
Gaps & Constraints: • NSTR
Food Security & Agriculture Needs: • In April, FSAC partners will participate in an Integrated Food Security Phase US$ 54.4 mil Classification (IPC) workshop in the Eastern region to identify food insecure required to provide basic districts. food assistance and livelihoods support to Response: returnees in 2017 • WFP provided food assistance to 161 undocumented families in Gardez district of Paktia. • Islamic Relief provided food assistance to 945 undocumented families in Bagrami district, 539 undocumented families in PD 21 and 60 undocumented families in Paghman district in Kabul. • DRC provided cash for food 161 undocumented families in Momandara district and 271 undocumented families in Shinwar district in Nangarhar.
Gaps & Constraints: • NSTR
Health Needs: • NSTR US$ 2.2 million required to meet the immediate health needs of Response: returnee populations in • Between 9 March and 6 April, 15,884 returnees received outpatient services in the 2017 Eastern region provided by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, PU-AMI, UNHCR, AADA, HN-TPO, CWS, ARCS for acute respiratory infection, diarrheal diseases, psychological first Aid, skin disease and referrals. In addition, 4,668 (1,526 OPV, 335 IPV, 2,817 measles) returnee children under five were vaccinated. • WHO conducted public awareness campaigns (through dissemination of health education messages at community level by training community health workers, Radio/TV airings and billboard installation) in seven high returnee districts (Jalalabad, Behsud, Momandara, Rodat, Sorkhrud, Khogyani and Kot) of Nangarhar in close
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collaboration with MoPH/health promotion and Nangarhar DoPH. 33,536 documented families (172,084 individuals) and 15,874 undocumented families (77,886 individuals) were reached. • 5 additional staff (2 TB screeners and 3 vaccinators) have been recruited to the Torkham Zero Point (ZP) and Transit Centre (TC) for health service delivery for returnees. In addition, over 5,000 health education leaflets and posters are being distributed among returnees at Torkham ZP. • WHO is preparing to start trauma care services (basic lifesaving support), to be implemented by AADA, at Belandghar, Sultanpur Comprehensive Health Centre and Ghanikhil and Khogyani District Hospital. • Over one million children under-five were vaccinated against Polio in the Eastern region during a National Immunisation Days campaign that took place between 27 and 31 March with a special focus on returnees/IDPs.
Gaps & Constraints: • 4 health facilities in Nangarhar province (Bandar & Mamand in Achin and Aghz & Papeen in Dehbala districts) were closed due to insecurity.
Nutrition Needs: • Based on analysis of data from the PND nutrition database for the first quarter 49,280 there is a 20% increase in the number of admissions of acutely malnourished children and women have children in six high return districts (Batikot, Behsud, Jalalalabad, Khogyani, Rodat received emergency and Surkhrod) in Nangarhar province, increasing the need for additional supplies nutrition assistance (MUAC tapes, Vitamin A, Deworming tablets, RUTF and IEC material) and services (including nutrition screening). • During the reporting period, UNICEF and WFP conducted a joint mission to assess and commence nutrition services at ZP, the Kandahar IOM TC and UNHCR EC. Discussions among partners (UNICEF, WFP, NGOs and staff of TC and EC) in Kandahar indicated an urgent need for nutrition in emergencies services.
Response: • At the Torkham border, TC and Kabul/Pul-e-Charkhi ECs, a total of 629 returnee children age 6-59 months were provided with Vitamin A supplementation, 425 children age 24-59 months received deworming tablets and 315 returnee women received IYCF counselling. During the reporting period, 635 returnee children under 5 have been screened using MUAC and edema indicators for acute malnutrition. Of these, 42 children have been identified and referred as suffering from SAM. The two-week ration of RUTF (28 sachets per SAM child) was also distributed to the children identified as SAM. • In Kandahar 16 (polio social mobiliser) staff were trained (12 females and 4 males) on the basic package of nutrition services (including vitamin A, deworming, screening, referral and IYCF and maternal nutrition) provided at all sites in Kandahar. • In Kandahar, 10 cartons of RUTF supplies, 20 PCs Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes, 2 tins 100,000 IU and 10 tins 200,000 IU of Vitamin A, 10 tins of Albendazole and Nutrition Information, Education and Communication (IEC) have been dispatched.
Gaps & Constraints: • Follow up of children identified as being acutely malnourished is complicated by the fact that final destinations often change, are unknown, or are not disclosed by families making it difficult to ensure that children get enrolled in OPD and IPD SAM services once they reach areas of settlements.
Protection Needs: • Between 2 and 8 April, the most common vulnerabilities identified through US$ 37.8 application of the PSN criteria at the border were the following: poor families, single parent families and unaccompanied minors (so far, 40 of these have been million identified). required to provide • protection assistance to During the reporting period, the NRC hotline service received phone calls from 50 returnee populations in documented and undocumented returnees. The main requests revolved around 2017 access to basic services and land. • To address the needs of returnees at the Spin Boldak border UNICEF is planning to install 3 Child Friendly Spaces and 3 safe play areas at the UNHCR EC, IOM TC and ZP. This will strengthen child protection responsive activities such as provision of temporary shelter, screening, psychosocial support, family reunification, birth registration and awareness raising. Further, Child Protection Action Network (CPAN)
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and other members of the CPiE will manage the CFS and contribute in the monitoring, reporting and response to child separation.
Response: • Between 22 March and 9 April, DRC-DDG reached 35 new returnees (15 female and 20 male) in Woch Tangy (Behsud district), and Wahdat Mena (Surkhrod district) through awareness raising sessions on women rights, family law, Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) law and Afghanistan formal and informal justice system as part of it regular activities in IDP settlements. • NRC identified 44 Housing, Land and Property (HLP) cases in Nangarhar province. Of these, 16 cases required resolution, 21 required counselling and 7 needed documentation (203 individual beneficiaries including 105 females were assisted). 45 individuals, including 18 females, obtained civil documentation. A community sensitisation and capacity building training was also conducted on HLP, inheritance and dispute resolution, benefitting 43 returnee individuals (20 female and 23 male). Additionally, NRC conducted 30 information sessions on civil documentation, HLP, basic services and education for 306 returnee individuals (172 female and 134 male) at the ECs and in areas of high return in Nangarhar province. During the reporting period, NRC registered 25 returnees to access humanitarian assistance, civil documentation and counselling cases covering 496 returnee individuals (259 female and 237 male) in Nangarhar province. • From 22 March to 05 April, PU-AMI provided Psychological First Aid (PFA) to 37 men and 236 women; community awareness to 396 men and 1,602 women in Nangarhar province. PU-AMI is also operating six mobile clinics in Nangarhar province. • In Kandahar, DDG provided mine/ERW risk education to 2,624 (1,378 female and 1,246 male) undocumented returnees at the Spin Boldak ZP and Kandahar TC. DDG also provided mine/ERW risk education to 276 (147 female and 129 male) refugee returnees at UNHCR EC. • In the Eastern region, DDG provided mine/ERW risk education to 11,484 (4,861 female and 6,623 male) undocumented returnees. • In the North-Eastern region, MDC provided mine/ERW risk education to 797 undocumented returnees (382 females and 415 males). A total of 28 ERW (5 Mortar and 23 SAA) were also destroyed. • A total of 1,798 returnee children (900 boys and 898 girls) have received psychosocial support and other services through the CFS run by Tabish at the IOM TC and UNHCR EC. While 1,698 returnee children (799 boys and 899 girls) benefitted from psychosocial support services at Tabish CFS in Gamberi settlement (Gambiri Islamdara and Gambiri Charbagh) in March. • From 2 to 8 April, IOM identified and assisted 40 unaccompanied returnee children.
Gaps & Constraints: • There is a lack of DoRR staff at the Milak Border (Nimroz province) to screen unaccompanied minors and other cases with specific needs. • There are a limited number of psychosocial counselors for adults in the areas where there are IDPs and returnees among provinces of high return – Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman – in the Eastern region. • Starting 1 April, no mine action cross-trained teams are available in most of the regions. The APC has prioritised mine action for the CHF 1st Standard Allocation; funds released are expected to cover the gap. • Two child friendly spaces – one in Islamdara, Kandahar province and the other in Charbagh, Laghman province – were closed in January and February respectively due to lack of funding. APC is discussing the matter with CPiE partners at regional level to address the gap.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Needs: • From 26 to 28 February, DACAAR conducted a needs assessment in Tarkhi Oba 81,870 area of Behsud district in Nangarhar province covering 304 returnee families (of which 20 were undocumented) and in Shagi area of Asadabad district in Kunar returnees province covering 150 returnee families (of which 48 were undocumented). Of the supported with WASH emergency response since assessed, over 89% families were practicing open defecation and also travelled October 2016 between 1 to 1.5 kilometers to fetch water from neighboring villages. • CRDS conducted a needs assessment for 1,500 families (mostly returnees) from 28 March to 5 April in Kabul informal settlements. 90% of the assessed families were found to be in need of water, sanitation and hygiene assistance. • Between 24 and 29 January, COAR carried out a needs assessment of 4,685 returnee and IDP families in Rodat, Kuzkunar and Shinwar districts of Nangarhar province. The survey found that 80% of families were in need of water, 18% had no latrines and 79% reported to have no soap for hand washing. • In February, Solidarite International conducted a needs assessment of 3,234 families (40% returnees/IDPs and 60% host communities) in five districts of Nangarhar (Behsud, Dar-ee-Nur, Kama, Kuz Kunar and Rodat) and
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two districts of Kunar (Chawkay and Khas Kunar). 68% of the assessed families had no access to clean water while 63% were practicing open defecation. • IMC conducted a needs assessment of ZP and the IOM TC in Torkham on 4 April. The need for an increased number of water points and sanitation facilities for returnee arrivals was found to be a priority. Currently, approximately 120 families are arriving every day with this figure expected to increase from mid-April. IMC also reported that the existing borehole at the TC has dried and there is need to drill a new borehole of more than 120-metres deep.
Response: • 6,657 undocumented returnees benefited from family hygiene kits distributed by IMC (with UNICEF support) at the IOM TC. • DACAAR (with UNICEF’s support) has completed 10 boreholes with hand pumps in Khosa China area in Surkhrod district in Nangarhar province. These boreholes are now providing safe drinking water to 209 returnees families (1,463 individuals). • NGO SHPOUL – a ZOA implementing partner – has completed the construction of 30 boreholes with hand pumps in different villages of Jalalabad City, Behsud and Surkhrod districts. These boreholes are now serving 750 returnee and IDP families (5,250 individuals) with safe drinking water.
Gaps & Constraints: • WASH Cluster partners have submitted more than eight proposals under envelope two of the CHF 1 st Allocation amounting to approximately US$ 5 million to address outstanding needs. Additionally, a total of six proposals have been submitted under envelope four with requirements totaling US$ 3 million to support emergency preparedness activities. However, the total amount available under these two envelopes is only US$ 4.5 million which will be shared among WASH, and ESNFI clusters, leaving a gap of roughly US$ 3 million which must be found elsewhere.
Refugee & Returnee Needs: • UNFPA is currently providing Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services to 7,808 returnees and IDPs in Nangarhar province with CERF funding. These funds will run out in May creating a significant gap in the provision of services for returnees Documented and Undocumented Returnees at entry points and in areas of high return. arrived from Pakistan • During the reporting period, NRC completed a HEAT assessment of 1,500 between 3 and 8 April 2017 families (10,500 individuals) who arrived in Nangarhar province since February. Overall, 1,345 families were identified as requiring emergency assistance including food, NFI items, hygiene support, education and health services.
Response: • Registered refugees returning from Pakistan received the following assistance at three ECs in Kabul City, Samarkhel in Nangarhar and Jamal Mayna in Kandahar provinces during the reporting period: - All registered refugees (1,591) returning from Pakistan were provided with a one-time cash grant amounting to US$ 200 per person. - Among the 1,591 registered refugees who arrived within the reporting period, UNHCR implementing partners provided health care services to all those in need of such support. - Mine awareness: all returning refugees (1,591) from Pakistan received mine awareness training carried out by Danish Demining Group supported by UNMAS. - All returning refugee children – up to 10 years of age – received polio and measles vaccinations provided by the MoPH with support from WHO and UNICEF. • On 3 April, protection monitoring teams interviewed 1,591 registered refugees from Pakistan using the revised Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). The findings indicated that returnees were aware of the level of the cash grant they were entitled to and that they intended to use the cash grant to pay for onward transport, rent, settle existing debts, medical expenses as well as to meet immediate needs, such as food and clothing. • During the reporting period, IOM assisted 11,341 with packages of NFIs, cash for transportation ranging from US$ 25-50 per person based on their final destination, basic health services, hot meals and overnight accommodation at the IOM TCs in Torkham and Kandahar. Other services provided by partners at the TCs include: 6,429 food packages from WFP; comprehensive, gender segregated mine awareness education carried out by Danish Demining Group supported by UNMAS; Hygiene awareness training and basic medicine including Vitamin A was provided by UNICEF for 3,675 returnee individuals (2,127 families) along with 3,675 hygiene kits. 2 CFS were installed by UNICEF’s implementing partner Tabish. UNFPA continues to support partners to provide
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health services in Torkham Zero point and at the TC to facilitate comprehensive health services. The health facilities functioned during the border closure but experienced low levels of utilisation. • Between 9 March and 6 April, 15,884 undocumented returnees received outpatient services in the Eastern region provided by WHO supported health partners. These services included treatment of Acute Respiratory infection (ARI), diarrheal diseases, psychological first aid, skin disease and other referrals. In addition, 4668 (1,526 OPV, 335 IPV, 2,817 measles) children under five among returnees were vaccinated. • WHO conducted public awareness campaigns in seven high return districts (Jalalabad, Behsud, Momandara, Rodat, Surkhrod, Khogyani and Kot) of Nangarhar province in close collaboration with MoPH/health promotion and Nangarhar DoPH. The health education messages are being delivered to the communities by community health workers as well as through Radio/TV airings and billboards. • WHO has recruited additional staff to support health service delivery to returnees at Torkham and IOM’s TC. While over 5,000 health education leaflets and posters are being distributed among returnees at Torkham.
Gaps & Constraints: • NSTR
Education Needs: • Last week, UNICEF visited schools in Jalalabad (Nangarhar province) and found that schools in the City are overcrowded and have insufficient teachers staff due 600,000 to high enrollment of returnee children. Language classes were also indicated as returnee and IDP children a need for secondary students returning from Pakistan including catch-up are in need of education in classes for those students who enrolled late. emergencies in 2017 • During the reporting period, a Community Based School (CBS) assessment conducted by EiEWG partners in Nangarhar province found that an additional 129 CBS are urgently required for 4,669 returnee children of school going age.
Response: • UNICEF provided the Public Education Department (PED) withsix tents for Jalalabad district, five tents for Surkhrod district and four tents for Kugini district during the reporting period. These tents will be used as Temporary Classrooms (TCs) for returnee children which can accommodate 40 children in single shift and 80 children in double shift. • In April, PLAN International is planning to establish 50 new Community Based Schools (CBSs) in Nangarhar province and distribute 100 tents for the establishment of Temporary Classrooms as follows; 10 tents for Laghman, 10 tents for Kunar and 80 tents for Nangarhar province.
Gaps & Constraints: • The majority of returnee parents, teachers and some education officials working in areas of high return are unaware of the returnee guideline released by Ministry of Education (MoE), which allows returnee and displaced children to enroll to schools without documentation. The EiEWG and its partners are actively supporting the MoE in raising awareness on the returnee guideline partly through the development of the Education Frequently Asked Questions, which provides returnees with information on their rights to education.
Background on the crisis More than 38,250 undocumented and registered refugee Afghans have returned from Pakistan in 2017. While difficult to predict, it is anti cipated that between 864,000 and 1.5 million Afghans could return to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries this year.
Registered returning refugees hold a Proof of Registration (PoR) card valid until 31 December 2017 which legalises their stay in Pakistan. 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). Operational partners include UNICEF, WHO, MoRR and MoE 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 means of registration. 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 vulnerabi lity.
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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