BORDER MONITORING UPDATE COVID-19 RESPONSE 28 June

BORDER MONITORING UPDATE COVID-19 RESPONSE 28 June – 04 July 2020

Returnees at Islam Qala recption center, Islam Qala border, Herat

06 July 2020 CHA/ M. Tareq Faizi

Since 01 January, UNHCR assisted the return of 377 Afghan refugees from Iran (327), Pakistan (16) and other 377 countries (34) under its facilitated voluntary repatriation programme. UNHCR, as of 04 March 2020, temporarily AFGHAN REFUGEES suspended the voluntary return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Iran and other countries as a precautionary RETURNED TO measure linked to COVID-19. Upon the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign AFGHANISTAN Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA), UNHCR Iran resumed voluntary repatriation from Iran as of 30 April.

According to MoRR/IOM, during the week of 28 June – 04 July, the total number of undocumented returnees 363,963 was 12,204 from Iran (6,227 deportees and 5,977 spontaneous returnees). Since 01 January, the total UNDOCUMENTED AFGHANS number of undocumented returnees is 363,963 individuals, including 362,077 from Iran (258,581 RETURNED FROM IRAN AND spontaneous returnees and 103,496 deportees) and 1,886 from Pakistan (1,809 spontaneous returnees PAKISTAN and 77 deportees). From 22 June 2020, the Government of Pakistan announced that Torkham and Spin Boldak crossing points will open six days a week (Sunday – Friday) for commercial purposes. Pedestrian movement of stranded Afghans and Pakistanis is officially permitted once per week (Saturday), though in practice pedestrian traffic has been allowed more frequently. On 4 July, 6,769 stranded Afghans crossed through Torkham into Afghanistan, while 466 stranded Pakistanis returned to Pakistan. Spin Boldak crossing 10,620 point has remained closed since 06 June for pedestrian movement of stranded Afghans and Pakistanis. INTERVIEWS WITH RETURNEES FROM IRAN AND PAKISTAN BORDER MONITORING

In line with UNHCR’s protection monitoring objectives, and in the context of increased incidence of COVID-19 F 19% across the territory of Afghanistan, UNHCR made the decision to expand its protection and return monitoring activities to the official entry points with Iran (Islam Qala and Zaranj/Milak crossing points) and with Pakistan

M (Spin Boldak and Torkham), when open for pedestrian movements. Through maintaining a consistent 81% presence at these zero points, UNHCR aims to ensure efficient, timely and systematic gathering of protection information from Afghan returnees.

BORDER MONITORING UPDATE | COVID-19 RESPONSE Afghanistan 04 July 2020

Between 28 June – 04 July, 1,411 interviews, including 1,214 male and 197 female respondents, were carried out with returnees from Iran (1,393) and Pakistan (18). Since the start of border monitoring on 05 April, a total of 10,620 returnees (8,647 M and 1,973 F) were interviewed as they entered Afghanistan from Iran at Zaranj/Milak (5,491) and Islam Qala (4,536), and from Pakistan at Spin Boldak (330) and Torkham (263), including 8,338 single individuals and 2,282 heads of households who returned with their families. It should be noted that because of the border restrictions, returnees from Pakistan are mainly passport/ID holders. Since 06 June, no interviews were carried out at Spin Boldak due to the closure of the border for pedestrian movement.

Note: The female sample size is small because there is a high proportion of single males among the returnees/deportees from Iran.

Respondents’ Return Status Respondents (%) by Entry Point Respondents’ Age and Gender

Spin Female Deportee 48.9% 0.4% Islam Boldak 12-17 Male 3.1% 5.7% Qala Torkham 42.7% 2.5% Spontaneous 31.9% returnee 13.0% 18-34 60.8%

Passport holder 15.8%

4.3% 35-59 Tazkira/ token 13.6% 3.0% holder Zaranj/ Milak 51.7% 60 and 0.8% VRF holder 0.4% over 1.4%

Years Spent in the CoPR Reason for entry to CoPR Sources of Information about COVID-19 in Iran & Pakistan In search of 81.6% Less 69.4% employment 50.1% than 1 16.7% TV year 92.1% 32.5% 7.9% Conflict 1.8% 25.8% Radio 29.3% 1 - 5 22.9% 5.0% years 5.2% Family visit 31.4% Local 10.4% community 14.7% For medical 1.7% treatment 31.7% 6 - 10 3.2% Mosque/ 10.6% religious years 0.2% 1.5% leaders 13.9% Drought 0.3% Community 2.5% More 1.0% leaders 3.5% Business 7.2% than 10 10.9% years 1.5% Information 0.3% To move to Turkey 0.6% leaflet 1.4% & onward to Europe 0.2% Born in 1.0% 0.7% Iran 0.3% Iran CoPR 1.0% Iran Other Other 1.1% Pakistan 7.1% Pakistan Pakistan

www.unhcr.org 2

BORDER MONITORING UPDATE | COVID-19 RESPONSE Afghanistan 04 July 2020

Situation in Country of Prior Residence (CoPR) - Iran and Pakistan

Interviewed Returnees from Iran (Islam Qala and Zaranj/Milak):

◼ 52% deportees, 33% spontaneous returnees, 14% passport holders and 1% VRF holders; ◼ 31% of the interviewed spontaneous returnees and 12% of deportees were female; ◼ 75% of the interviewed returnees stated that they returned from five provinces in Iran: Tehran, Sistan va Baluchestan, Kerman, Fars, and Hormozgan; 70% spent less than one year in Iran; ◼ 82% went to Iran in search of livelihoods opportunities, 8% due to conflict, 5% to visit family/relatives, 2% for medical treatment, 1% (mainly deportees) to move to Turkey and onward to Europe, and 2% other reasons;

◼ 32% (3,185 respondents) claimed that they faced problems during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as lost work/wages, discrimination/stigmatization by local communities, lack of access to markets, pressure by authorities to leave for Afghanistan, movement restrictions related to the lockdown, and lack of access to medical services; ◼ 88% of returnees and deportees stated that they had received information about COVID-19 in Iran, mainly through TV, radio and local communities;

◼ 21% of the interviewed deportees stated that they did not receive information about COVID-19 in Iran; this figure is very low among passport holders (5%) and spontaneous returnees (1%); ◼ 35% (3,519 respondents, most of whom were spontaneous returnees and deportees) claimed that they had paid a municipality (return) tax (100,000 – 500,000 IRR/ approximately USD 7-35);

◼ 30% claimed that they faced problems during return: high transportation/ travel costs, fee charged at detention center, limited transportation services to reach the border, overcrowded situation in the bus stations, or bribe required to pass police check point;

◼ Since early May, Iranian health officials in Dogharoun have been conducting a health screening process and providing returning refugees and passport holders with a health certificate issued after a temperature check and interview focused on possible COVID-19 symptoms. This practice was put in place after a request for screening by Afghanistan’s MoPH.

Interviewed Returnees from Pakistan (Spin Boldak and Torkham): ◼ 53% were Tazkira/token holders1, 32% passport holders, and 15% spontaneous returnees; ◼ 57% of the interviewed spontaneous returnees and 39% of Tazkira/token holder returnees were female; ◼ 43% of the interviewed returnees stated that they returned from Baluchistan, 35% from KPK, 12% Sindh, 8% Punjab, and 2% from Islamabad; 92% spent less than a year in Pakistan; ◼ 52% (308 respondents) claimed that they faced problems during the COVID-19 outbreak, mainly lost work/wages, movement restrictions due to the lockdown, lack of access to markets, and lack of access to medical services; ◼ 95% stated that they had received information about COVID-19 in Pakistan, mainly through TV, radio, mosque/ religious leaders and local communities; ◼ 39% claimed that they faced problem during return: overcrowded bus stations, high transportation/ travel costs, limited transportation services to reach the border, or bribe required to pass police check point.

Reasons for Return to Afghanistan (Spontaneous returnees, VRF holders, and Passport/ID holders)

Reunite with family members in Afghanistan 32.1% 57.2% No employment opportunities in CoPR 19.6% 4.9% Fear of COVID-19 18.7% 4.0% High cost of living/ high rent in Iran 6.2% 0.4% Discrimination by local community 1.7% 0.1% Denied access to health facilities 1.3% 4.0% Threat of detention /forced quarantine 1.0% 6.8% Fear of arrest and/or deportation 0.9% 4.6% Abuse by police or state authorities 0.5% 0.4% Iran Other 18.2% Pakistan 17.4%

1 This category are those Afghans who live along the border area in Afghanistan and normally move back and forth to Pakistan and Afghanistan frequently. www.unhcr.org 3

BORDER MONITORING UPDATE | COVID-19 RESPONSE Afghanistan 04 July 2020

The border monitoring data shows that there was a sharp increase in the number of deportees in June/July as compared to May. In order to better assess these trends, UNHCR revised its border monitoring tool that to collect deportation reasons as well as intentions of returnees and deportees after their arrival in Afghanistan. The revised tool has been implemented as of 04 July in all entry points and 149 interviews were conducted following this revision.

Reason Provided for Deportation (only deportees from Iran)

Lack of documentation 68%

Irregular entry to CoPR 11%

Expiration of passport/visa 8%

I did not have a work permit 8%

Expiration of my work permit 4%

Information Dissemination in Afghanistan Did you receive information about Did you receive any information about COVID-19 upon arrival in Afghanistan? COVID-19 while you were in your CoPR? 7 9% Islam Qala 76.3% 23.7% 98.0% 2% Zaranj/ Milak 84.4% 15.6% 79.8% 20%

Spin Boldak 66.7% 33.3% 94.5% 5% OF INTERVIEWED RETURNEES STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 Torkham 11.4% 88.6% 95.8% 4% UPON ARRIVAL IN AFGHANISTAN Total (all entry 78.6% 21.4% 88.4% 12% points) Yes No Yes No

24% of returnees interviewed at Islam Qala border crossing point, 16% at Zaranj/Milak, 89% at Torkham and 33% at Spin Boldak stated that they had not received information about COVID-19 upon arrival in Afghanistan. The information gap at the entry points has imporved since UNHCR’s follow-up with partners in May. The information gap in Torkham, in particular, is mainly related to the opening of the border only for 8-10 hours for one day per week. This issue creates an overcrowded situation as thousands of Afghans, who were stranded on the other side of the border, try to cross at once, with little attention to services provided by partners, including health screening and information dissemination about COVID-19. UNHCR raised this matter with the border authorities and partners and is working with them to find a solution. The information gap in Spin Boldak remains the same because there was no population movement due to the closure of the border since 06 June.

While the gap in the dissemination of information upon arrival in Afghanistan is of concern, particularly for Afghans returning as part of large- scale weekly returns via Torkham, the monitoring findings shows that nearly 90% of returnees and deportees received information in their areas of residence in the respective CoPR - in Iran 88%, and in Pakistan 95%. When comparing this data by entry point, the findings show that only 4% of those who came via Torkham and 5% of those who came via Spin Boldak stated that they did not receive information about COVID-19 in Pakistan. Similarly, 2% of the interviewed returnees and deportees who came through Islam Qala and 20% of those came via Zaranj/Milak did not receive information in Iran.

www.unhcr.org 4

BORDER MONITORING UPDATE | COVID-19 RESPONSE Afghanistan 04 July 2020

Areas of Return in Afghanistan (origin vs intended destination)

◼ 3% do not return to their areas of origin due to lack of livelihood opportunities, reunification with family/relatives, lack of housing/shelter, and perceived insecurity. 97% ◼ Interviewed returnees from Iran were travelling to all 34 provinces across the country, with the majority (72%) intending to return to Herat, Faryab, Nimroz, Takhar, Kunduz, Farah, Ghor, Badakhshan, Badghis, and Ghazni provinces. OF THE INTERVIEWED ◼ Interviewed returnees from Pakistan were traveling to 28 provinces, with the majority (72%) intending to return to Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kabul, Ghazni and Paktika provinces. RETURNEES FROM IRAN AND PAKISTAN DECLARED DURING ◼ 89% stated that they will stay in their own house, 9% stated that they will rent a house, 4% will

THE INTERVIEW THAT THEY stay with relatives;

ARE RETURNING TO THEIR ◼ 76% (mainly deportees) stated that they will try to find a job in their province of origin; AREAS OF ORIGIN ◼ 14% (all deportees from Iran) stated that they intended to go back to Iran: for employment, to join family, or to collect property in Iran. In addition, 1% stated that they are intended to move on to a third country.

Intention after return/deportation Reasons for going back to CoPR

Will search for work in my 76.5% Employment 73.3% province of origin

Want to go back to CoPR 14.3% Join my family 22.8%

Will search for a job in another 8.2% Collect property/assets 3.0% province in Afghanistan

Will join the police/army 1.0% Will move on to a third country 1.0%

Living arrangements after return Education Level - Returnees from Iran & Pakistan

9.1% I will stay in my own house 85.5% Grade 1-6 9.8% Female 2.7% I will rent a house 9.3% Grade 7-9 Male 5.3% I will stay with relatives 4.0% 2.7% Grade 10-12 6.8% I will buy a house 0.4% 2.4% Madrasa 1.2% I will stay in a makeshift shelter 0.3% Technical Vocational 0.3% I will stay in an open area 0.1% Training 0.2% 0.6% University degree I will stay in a tent 0.1% 1.2%

82.2% Other 0.2% No education 75.5%

Angela Moore, Snr. Protection Officer | Tel.: +93 791990160 | Email: [email protected]

Mohammad Haroon, Assistant Repatriation Officer | Tel.: +93 791990019 | Email: [email protected]