Objectives
- This position paper clarifies the position and modalities for provision of humanitarian assistance to Pakistani returnees – who fled to Afghanistan (Khost, Paktika) following the military operation in North Waziristan which occurred between June 2014 and February 2016 - and focuses on conditions in areas of return as the Government of Pakistan (GoP) is leading the return process.
HCT Position on Returns from Afghanistan
The Government of Pakistan (GoP), through the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), has informed that it will not enter into a Tripartite Agreement on the voluntary repatriation for the Pakistanis displaced in Khost and Paktika as the GoP considers this caseload to be “Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs)” rather than refugees. This distinction is important as it dictates the framework which governs their return and reintegration – the same framework that is used for internally displaced, “Temporarily displaced persons”, in Pakistan and not a refugee return framework.
Accordingly, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) will refer to this category of affected population as ‘returning TDPs from Afghanistan’ or ‘Pakistanis displaced in Afghanistan’ for reporting, assistance planning purposes and differentiation between them and TDPs who have remained within Pakistan.
Local governmental authorities have requested the HCT to support the return movement from Afghanistan. Therefore, the humanitarian country team recommends WFP to provide one month food assistance at Bakka Khel camp after registration, where returnees are expected to stay for a period of 3 weeks. In the event that their areas of origin have been cleared and allowed to return, they will qualify for the same assistance being provided to returning TDPs, including six months’ food basket by WFP inside North Waziristan, while making special provisions for like females, minors, elderly and disabled person headed households and other vulnerable groups. However, if their areas are not cleared and de-notified, they will be provided with the same assistance being accorded to TDPs, including WFP’s regular monthly food rations for the entire period that they will remain in displacement. After arrival, if more or different assistance may be needed for further humanitarian assistance upon arrival if more or different humanitarian assistance may be needed will be shared with the HCT.
Given the GoP decision that the TDP framework will govern this movement, HCT members will engage in the return process through protection by presence4, providing humanitarian assistance and deterring potential human rights abuses by reminding individuals, groups or institution of their human rights obligation while also helping build the confidence of the affected population5. The humanitarian community involvement in this return operation will provide opportunities to engage with the government officials to ensure equity in assistance, advocate with the authorities for grievance redress of returnees from Afghanistan; protection monitoring; as well as identifying needs in areas of return. Furthermore, presence at the reception center will enable humanitarian actors to provide appropriate information to returning TDPs from Afghanistan to make an informed choice.