Situation Overview
After decades of conflict, many Afghans have been living abroad for decades, and face significant challenges upon re-entry and re-integration into Afghanistan. The primary challenges for returnees include a lack of access to information, civil documentation and in turn, access to basic rights and services. For Afghans who have been deported, this is compounded as many have been arrested, detained and deported, with a high probability of human rights violations, returning with no possessions, documentation or means to provide for themselves. Additionally, due to the limited absorption capacity in major cities and areas of high return, there is increasing incidence of secondary displacement, reliance on negative coping mechanisms and consequentially a rise in protection concerns.
To facilitate the successful reintegration of Afghans returning to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation requested the international community to streamline all assistance for returnees. The previous lack of harmonized assistance for returning Afghans has resulted in significant gaps in the humanitarian response and in some cases a lack of alignment with humanitarian protection principles. Undocumented returnees from Iran, especially those who have been deported, are particularly vulnerable and significantly under-served. Currently, 95% of undocumented returnees from Pakistan are being assisted with post-arrival humanitarian assistance, compared to 4% of returnees from Iran. The disparity in providing harmonized assistance has been inequitably determined according to status, country of temporary residence and categorization of certain Persons with Specific Needs (PSN), as a result of funding gaps, donor/government priorities and the misconception that Afghans moving to and returning from Iran are ‘labour migrants.’