Undocumented Afghan Returns from Iran & Pakistan January to December 2015 IOM OIM OVERVIEW OF RETURNS FROM IRAN & PAKISTAN IOM provides vulnerable, undocumented Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan with immediate humanitarian post-arrival assistance through its Cross-Border Return and Reintegration programme (CBRR). The programme operates at three of Afghanistan s main border crossing points: Islam Qala border with Iran in Herat province, Milak border with Iran in Nimroz province, and Torkham border with Pakistan in Nangarhar province. In coordination with the provincial Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR), 1 returns from Pakistan at Spin Boldak border in Kandahar province are also recorded. from Pakistan arrive at Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province. Between January and December 2015, a total of 663,295 Afghans spontaneously returned and were deported through Torkham, Islam Qala, Milak and Spin Boldak borders. A detailed breakdown can be found in the Annex. 2 Compared with the same period in 2014, spontaneous returns through the four borders have increased by 31% (416,457 vs. 318,570), while deportations have increased by 8 % (246,838 vs. 228,111). The rise in spontaneous returns can be largely attributed to the dramatic increase in returns from Pakistan through Torkham since the beginning of the year, as explained in detail on the next page. RETURNS BY BORDER CROSSING, 2014 vs 2015 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 from Iran in 2014 from Pakistan in 2014 No of in 2014 from Iran in 2015 from Pakistan in 2015 No of in 2015 10000 0 1 Figures provided by DoRRs 2. Spontaneous returnees are defined as individuals who return outside the framework of an established returnsmechanism, while deportees are those who have been officially deported by foreign government authorities
PAKISTAN From 1 January to 31 December 2015, a total of 119,279 undocumented Afghans have returned from Pakistan through Torkham (97,124 individuals) and Spin Boldak (22,155 individuals) border crossing points. The top five provinces of destination for the returnees arriving through Torkham have been Nangarhar (50%), Kabul (14%), Laghman (7%), Kunar (12%) and Kunduz (5%). Some families have been unable to return to conflict-affected districts (Sarkani Dangam and Maravara), particularly in Kunar - these returnees often decide to settle in Asad Abad city in Kunar Province. The numbers of male and female returnees are roughly equal. Averages Per Day, 2014 vs. 2015 (Torkham & Spontaneous Undocumented Types of Caseload Deported Undocumented 2014 2015 Comparison 89 274 3x 26 53 2x Most of the returning Afghans have spent between 15-25 years outside of Afghanistan, and as such can face challenges in reintegrating. In 30 years I have only come twice to Afghanistan, I don t know what to do, a sixty-year-old Afghan woman who arrived from Pakistan with her three grandchildren in March 2015 told IOM. There is a need for longer-term, sustainable reintegration solutions for these returning Returnee loads IOM assistance onto their track at Torkham border in Nangarhar province. families. IOM s current assistance is limited to immediate post-arrival humanitarian support at Torkham Transit Center. Spontaneous Return & Deportation: A significant spike in spontaneous return of the undocumented Afghans from Pakistan occurred in the first quarter of the 2015. During this period, over 55% of the overall 2015 spontaneous returns occurred. The rate of return had reduced by approximately 50% by the second quarter of the year, by 70% in the third quarter, and to normal 2014 levels by the final quarter of 2015. The rate of deportation of undocumented Afghans in Pakistan was more constant throughout the first three quarters of 2015. However the fourth quarter saw a approximately 10-20% increase in deportation rates of the undocumented Afghans as compared to the first quarter. Return & Deportation of Undocumented Afghan by Quarter 2015 (Torkham & Spin Boldak) Spontaneous Deportation Quarter Annual % Annual % Torkham Spin Boldak Torkham Spin Boldak 1 53,064 2,023 55,087 55% 4,519 855 5,374 28% 2 20,734 6,029 26,763 27% 3,194 1,042 4,236 22% 3 6,321 4,231 10,552 11% 2,209 1,055 3,264 17% 4 3,682 3,958 7,640 8% 3,401 2,962 6,363 33% 16,241 16,241 100,042 100% 5,914 19,237 19,237 100% Spontaneous Returns and Deportations by Week in 2015 (Torkham Border Only) 10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253 Spontaneous Deportees
Post-Arrival Humanitarian & Transportation Assistance: During the reporting period IOM was able to assist 18,355 undocumented Afghan returnees and deportees from Pakistan through Torkham border crossing point, out of which 16,492 were spontaneous returnees and 1,863 were deportees. IOM Assisted the Undocumented Afghans by the following services: Initial screening and referral of identified beneficiaries at each border crossing point by the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR), First meal at the border reception facility, Issuance of registration cards (IOM Beneficiary Cards), Transportation from the border to a Transit Centre (TC), Registration of beneficiaries in the IOM database (launched in December 2012), Profile of the Assisted from Pakistan: Male 18 & above Provision of non-food item (NFI) kits to families in need, One-time distribution of WFP food packages to families in need, Provision of overnight accommodation before departure from the Transit Centre with meals, sanitation facilities and basic medical services, Health screening: especially to find suspicious cases of Tuberculosis (TB) for quick sputum sample check and/or referral to nearby medical institutions, Transportation cash grant to the beneficiaries who could arrange their travel from the Transit Centre to their final destination (ranging from USD 20 to 48 per person according to the decided rate per destination province). Special transportation arrangements for the medical cases, special cases (dead bodies) via road or air depending on the criticality of PSN cases. Family tracing and family re-unification for the unaccompanied minors, single female cases and unaccompanied elderly Referral of the PSN cases such as Medical Cases, Single Female Cases, Mentally Ill cases or others to organizations for further support and protection assistance. Female 18 & above Boys Under 18 Girls Under 18 4,505 3,016 5,521 5,313 18,355 Girls Under 18, 5,313 Male 18 & above, 4,505 Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs) Particularly vulnerable returning Afghans are identified at the border by staff from the provincial Directorate for Refugees and Repatriation, and referred to IOM Transit centers for assistance, using the PSN beneficiary selection criteria: 1. UAM: Unaccompanied Migrant Children, 2. UE: Unaccompanied Elderly, 3. MC: Medical Cases, 4. DA: Drug Addicts, 5. SC: Special Cases, 3 6. PD: Physically Disabled, 7. MI: Mentally Ill or Severely Traumatized, 8. SF: Single Females, 9. CI: Chronically Ill, 10. SP: single Parents, 11. PF: Poor Families 12. DF: Deported Families At the Transit Centers, eligible returnees and deportees receive immediate humanitarian assistance including basic household supplies, food, health care, temporary accommodation, family tracing, family re-unification through escort and transportation to their final destination in the country. Categories From Pakistan Turkham Poor Family (PF) 16,491 Unaccompanied Minor (UAM) 33 Special Case (SC) 1,817 A: PSNs Medical Case (MC) 3 Drug Addicted (DA) 1 Mentally Ill (MI) 8 A: PSNs 18,353 B: Deported Families 2 (A + B) 18,355 Unaccompanie Others d Minor (UAM) 0.1% 0.2% Special Case (SC) 9.9% Boys Under 18, 5,521 Female 18 & above, 3,016 Poor Family (PF) 89.8% 3 Including the most vulnerable returnees who have no means of onwards transportation, as well as those accompanying medical cases and dead bodies.
Iran Returns from Iran through Islam Qala and Milak borders have generally remained consistent with previous years. In 2015, a total of 544,016 undocumented Afghans returned spontaneously or were deported through Islam Qala and Milak border crossing points. During the same period in 2014 a total of 504,791 undocumented Afghans returned spontaneously or were deported. This represents a year-on -year 7% increase. Out of the total of 544,016 undocumented Afghan returnees, 316,415 (58%) were spontaneous returnees, and 227,601 (48%) were deportees. Unlike Nangarhar it is a challenge to capture profile information or information about province of origin and return at Islam Qala and Milak border crossing points because of the significantly larger number of returnees and a lack DoRR staff members. What is known, is that the average daily return from Iran through Herat & Nimroz is more than 1,500 persons, whereas from Pakistan even with the significant spike in 2015 through Nangarhar & Kandahar bordering provinces it was only 327 people a day. Averages Per Day, 2014 vs. 2015 (Islam Qala & Milak) Types of Caseload 2014 2015 Comparison Spontaneous Undocumented Individuals Deported Undocumented Individuals Return of Undocumented Afghans from Iran 2012 2015: 784 867 11% Increase 599 624 4% Increase Undocumented Afghan from Iran at Islam Qala Border Crossing point. Year Spontaneous Deportees 350,000 300,000 2012 279,012 250,731 529,743 2013 217,483 220,846 438,329 2014 286,226 218,565 504,791 2015 316,415 227,601 544,016 1,099,136 917,743 2,016,879 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 Spontaneous Deportees Iran as a Transit Point for Migrants: The main transit routes for Afghans attempting to reach Turkey and then Europe via irregular means are through the Afghan provinces of Nimroz, Kandahar or Farah. Although Afghan arrivals in Europe have substantially increased during this year, there has not been a major corresponding increase in deportations from Iran. In fact, deportations have decreased since 2012, when more than 250,000 undocumented Afghans were deported. - 2012 2013 2014 2015 Return & Deportation by Quarter 2015: While it is difficult to draw a direct link, it is worth noting that, as more and more Afghans reached Europe irregularly throughout 2015, the overall number of undocumented Afghans who were deported from Iran also increased quarter-by-quarter throughout 2015. Anecdotally, these undocumented Afghans are increasingly being caught near the Turkish border. Quarter Spontaneous Deportation % Islam Qala Milak Islam Qala Milak % 1 45,400 13,674 59,074 19% 22,294 26247 48,541 21% 2 65,034 13,695 78,729 25% 33,648 23,115 56,763 25% 3 84,187 11,405 95,592 30% 46,747 13,828 60,575 27% 4 72,461 10,559 83,020 26% 37,973 23,749 61,722 27% 267,082 49,333 316,415 100% 140,662 86,939 227,601 100%
Post-Arrival Humanitarian & Transportation Assistance: Particularly vulnerable returning Afghans are identified at the border by staff from the provincial Directorate for Refugees and Repatriation, and referred to IOM Transit centers for assistance. At the Transit Centers, eligible returnees, including all deportees, receive immediate humanitarian support including basic household supplies, food, health care, temporary accommodation and transportation to their final destination in the country. The Post-Arrival Humanitarian & Transportation Assistance for the undocumented Afghans returning from Iran or Pakistan is the same services in all the three border crossing A PSN Medical Case Under Treatment in Herat Regional Hospital 15% 15% 3% 3% 3% 2% Assisted PSNs Individuals from Iran 59% Unaccompanied Minor (UAM) Special Case (SC) Medical Case (MC) Unaccompanied Elderly (UE) Drug Addicted (DA) Single Female (SF) Others Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs) To help identify and assist the most vulnerable retuning Afghans, IOM, UNHCR and the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation have agreed upon categories of Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs). Details page 3. Between January and December 2015, IOM was able to assist 26,982 (4%) of returnees and deportees in all three border crossing points, while it is estimated that between 30% and 40% of the returnees from Pakistan through Torkham border are in need of assistance and only 10% from Iran. Assisted Number of PSNs from Iran Persons Categories From Iran Islam Qala Zaranj Poor Family (PF) 50 31 81 Unaccompanied Minor (UAM) 1,580 502 2,082 Single Parent Family (SP) 0 0 0 Special Case (SC) 3 275 244 519 Medical Case (MC) 229 298 527 A: Physically Disabled (PD) 58 22 80 PSNs Unaccompanied Elderly (UE) 99 20 119 Drug Addicted (DA) 100 1 101 Single Female (SF) 55 6 61 Mentally Ill (MI) 7 4 11 Chronically Ill (CI) 0 4 4 A: PSNs 2,453 1,132 3,585 B: Deported Families 4,115 927 5,042 C: Deported Document Claimants 0 0 0 (A + B + C) 6,568 2,059 8,627 Assisted PSNs Families from Iran 2% Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) make up the largest group of PSNs among the deported undocumented returnees from Iran. The deportation of UAMs is a serious issue from the standpoint of child protection. A total of 2,082 UAMs were assisted by IOM at Islam Qala and Milak borders between January & December. UAMs are provided with family tracing, referral to external shelters if needed and tailored transportation assistance. 98% Poor Family (PF) Deported Families A second group of concern is Single Females (SFs). Though only 61 cases were identified during the reporting period, individuals without family in Afghanistan as well as mentally handicapped single female returnees (SF/MI cases) who cannot easily reintegrate present significant assistance are challenging cases for IOM and protection partners. Discussions with relevant protection partners, including DoRR and the Directorate of Women Affairs (DoWA), on a joint SOP for assisting SF cases are on-going in Herat.
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: IOM, its medical team in Turkham Transit Center in Nangarhar and Guzergha Transit Center in Herat screens undocumented Afghans for suspected TB cases and either refers them to Herat or Nangarhar Regional Hospitals, or issues them with a National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) TB referral card so that they can access treatment from the Directorate of Public Health (DoPH) in their provinces of final In 2015, IOM was able to screen 4,355 undocumented Afghan returnees, out of which 11 were identified as suspected TB cases and 17 were found to be positive cases. Each of these cases were referred through NTP. BCP Screened Beneficiaries (A) Suspected Persons Suspected but Left TTC before taking samples Tested Samples Persons found Positive (B) Positive Rate Nangarhar - Torkham 4355 11 0 0 17 5% (B/A) Referral System: Beside provision of the post-arrival assistance to the most vulnerable PSNs in each of the border crossing points, IOM also referred PSNs, such as Medical cases, Unaccompanied Minors, Single Female cases and others to relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies for further support and assistance, during the reporting period a total of 228 PSNs mainly Medical Cases, Single Female Cases and Unaccompanied Minors were referred to other organizations for humanitarian support in Herat, Nimroz and Nangarhar. PSNs Category PSNs Number Herat Nimroz Referred (Organization) Case Status Poor Family (PF)/ Deported Family 57 0 Herat Regional Hospital (HRH) / Private clinics like Khaja Abdul Ansar, Almadina, Jawad Clinic The Family members were provided basic medical services and transported by IOM to their final Unaccompanied Minor 8 12 Directorate of Public Health (DoPH), Private Clinic, Closed - Transported to final destination by IOM Special Case (SC) 5 20 Medical Case (MC) 45 42 Directorate of Public Health (DoPH) of Herat & Nimroz, Private Clinic in Herat Nimroz & Herat Directorate of Public Health (DoPH), ICRC, Shaidayee Clinic, Private Clinics, Herat maternity hospital, mental health treatment center Physically Disabled (PD) 6 0 Herat - Directorate of Public Health (DoPH), ICRC Unaccompanied Elderly (UE) 6 0 Drug Addicted (DA) 6 0 Single Female (SF) 14 1 Mentally Ill (MI) 1 2 148 77 Herat - Directorate of Public Health (DoPH), Private Clinic, Herat Eye Treatment Center Herat - Directorate of Public Health (DoPH)/DDR Clinic Herat - Referred to VoW through DoRR and Directorate of Women Affairs (DoWA), Herat Regional h o s p i t a l t u b e r c l e s w a r d Nimroz - Referred to Directorate of Women Affairs (DoWA) Referred to Herat & Nimroz Directorate of Public Health (DoPH) The 5 cases treated in Herat and the 20 dead bodies were kept in the morgue unit IOM transported them all to their final destination The cases were treated and then transported to their final destination after spending 1 5 days in the hospitals and clinics. Province Male 18 & above Female 18 & above Profile of the Assisted from Pakistan: Boys Under 18 Girls Under 18 Herat 967 2,749 1,005 1,847 6,568 Nimroz 758 256 806 239 2,059 1,725 3,005 1,811 2,086 8,627 In 2015, a total of 8,627 undocumented deported Afghan individuals and families were assisted, out which 24% were girls and 21% boys under 18, 35% were adult women, and 20% are adult men. The majority 59% of the total assisted were women & girls.
ANNEX RETURNS BY BORDER CROSSING, JANUARY DECEMBER 2015 Islam Qala Border (Iran) Milak Border (Iran) Date Spontenouse Deportees Jan-15 14,939 6,599 21,538 Feb-15 14,948 8,152 23,100 Mar-15 15,513 7,543 23,056 Apr-15 19,653 8,725 28,378 May-15 22,703 12,429 35,132 Jun-15 22,678 12,494 35,172 Jul-15 21,002 10,754 31,756 Aug-15 27,589 15,008 42,597 Sep-15 35,596 20,985 56,581 Oct-15 23,245 17,681 40,926 Nov-15 27,724 11,283 39,007 Dec-15 21,492 9,009 30,501 s 267,082 140,662 407,744 Spontenouse Date Deportees Jan-15 3,674 6,323 9,997 Feb-15 5,303 11,266 16,569 Mar-15 4,697 8,658 13,355 Apr-15 5,775 10,828 16,603 May-15 4,399 6,525 10,924 Jun-15 3,521 5,762 9,283 Jul-15 3,334 4,693 8,027 Aug-15 4,267 2,128 6,395 Sep-15 3,804 7,007 10,811 Oct-15 3,918 8,791 12,709 Nov-15 3,933 8,754 12,687 Dec-15 2,708 6,204 8,912 s 49,333 86,939 136,272 Torkham Border (Pakistan) Spin Boldak (Pakistan) Spontenouse Date Deportees Jan-15 22,274 1,472 23,746 Feb-15 18,935 1,575 20,510 Mar-15 11,855 1,472 13,327 Apr-15 7,920 1,229 9,149 May-15 7,569 1,120 8,689 Jun-15 5,245 845 6,090 Jul-15 1,804 495 2,299 Aug-15 3,090 914 4,004 Sep-15 1,427 800 2,227 Oct-15 1,773 853 2,626 Nov-15 1,236 1,139 2,375 Dec-15 673 1,409 2,082 s 83,801 13,323 97,124 Spontenouse Date Deportees Jan-15 - - - Feb-15 268 235 503 Mar-15 1,755 620 2,375 Apr-15 2,046 330 2,376 May-15 2,392 539 2,931 Jun-15 1,591 173 1,764 Jul-15 986 281 1,267 Aug-15 1,922 600 2,522 Sep-15 1,323 174 1,497 Oct-15 1,603 576 2,179 Nov-15 1,240 1,838 3,078 Dec-15 1,115 548 1,663 s 16,241 5,914 22,155 Relief Items Distributed (Jan-Jun 2015) Iran Pakistan Islam Qala Milak Torkham # of Distributed Family NFI Kits 757 198 2254 3,209 # of Distributed WFP Food Item Packages 679 176 1836 2,691 # of Distributed Family Winter Kits 0 0 386 386 # of Distributed UNICEF Hygiene Kits 0 0 387 387 # of Distributed IOM Family Tents 0 0 0 0
AFGHANISTAN Final Destination of the Undocumented Afghan From Iran & Pakistan January 2009 December 2015