Input:
undertake voluntary work in the community were, similarly, being explored.
Use of the playing field within the RPC was provided to asylum-seekers for a couple of hours each afternoon to play sports and undertake other activities.
Asylum-seekers were allowed to cook their own meals on two nights per week, with use of communal cooking facilities allocated by roster.

53. UNHCR welcomes the efforts officials and service providers working in the Centre have made to ameliorate the asylum-seekers’ difficult living conditions, to organize excursions and to provide meaningful activities for the asylumseekers.

54. Nevertheless, UNHCR was deeply concerned by the ongoing deprivation of freedom of the asylum-seekers in the Centre, especially in the harsh and crowded conditions. While the physical limitations of the Centre appear to be fairly low-security, there is a significant presence of security guards and no one is allowed to enter or leave without explicit permission.

55. The remoteness of the location, the nature of the facility (on a naval base) and the difficult living conditions appear to contribute to the all-pervasive sense of frustration and despondency which, if left unresolved for a protracted period, is likely to lead to increased levels of psycho-social and physical harm of those affected.

56. This is particularly serious for children (who are dealt with separately below).

57. Overall, UNCHR concludes that the current arrangement for the housing of asylum-seekers at the RPC constitutes detention under applicable international law. According to UNHCR’s Detention Guidelines, ‘detention’: _...refers to the deprivation of liberty or confinement in a closed place_ _which an asylum-seeker is not permitted to leave at will, including, though_ _not limited to, prisons or purpose-built detention, closed reception or_ _holding centres or facilities._ [6] 58. Most asylum-seekers have been detained for protracted periods, without processing or assessment of their claims to international protection, in difficult conditions.

59. Since UNHCR’s last visit, there continues to be: (i) no adequate domestic regulatory framework for detention; (ii) no adequate process by which the necessity of detention of an individual is made or reviewable; (iii) no clearly defined process in place to consider claims for refugee status, although such a process is imminent; and (iv) no time limit on the period which detention will last.

60. The current PNG policy and practice of detaining all asylum-seekers at the closed Centre, on a mandatory and indefinite basis without an assessment as to the necessity and proportionality of the purpose of such detention in the individual case, and without being brought promptly before a judicial or other independent authority amounts to arbitrary detention that is inconsistent with international human rights law.

6 UNHCR Detention Guidelines: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/503489533b8.pdf 12

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Input:
**Recommendations: Reception of Asylum-Seekers**

**E. The need for detention of an asylum-seeker should be based on an**

**assessment in the individual case of risk to public order, public health or**
**national security.**

**F. In the absence of reasonable and proportionate limitations arising from**

**each individual case, asylum-seekers should be provided with freedom of**
**movement as a matter of priority and the Centre on Manus Island should**
**be made an open centre.**

**G. The Government of PNG should establish a legal framework which**

**outlines the permissible bases for detention, which should be consistent**
**with international law and in line with UNHCR’s Detention Guidelines.**
**Such a legal framework would ensure that asylum-seekers be given**
**reasons for their detention in writing and be allowed to challenge the**
**decision to detain, with periodic reviews thereafter to ensure no one is**
**detained longer than necessary, with express maximum periods for such**
**detention.**

**H. The consideration of alternatives to detention, as well as improvements in**

**the physical living conditions for asylum-seekers on Manus Island, are**
**urgent and should be undertaken as soon as possible.**

_**V.**_ _**Children**_ 61. At the time of the visit, UNCHR observed that: (i) there were 25 children housed at the Centre; (ii) educational and child welfare services were provided by Save the Children Australia; (iii) children were provided with formal education programmes in a classroom on site, and the education programme was coupled with extra-curricular activities; and (iv) negotiations to send children to local schools had not been successful, for a number of reasons, including the fact that local schooling is conducted in the Tok Pisin language.

62. Asylum-seekers expressed particular concerns about: (i) the deprivation of liberty for children; (ii) the deteriorating mental health of children in the RPC, which was impacting on their ability to engage in educational activities; (iii) the trauma caused to the children by being in close proximity to the single adult male compound, notwithstanding the additional measures taken at the Centre to provide a visual and greater physical barrier between the two groups; (iv) the uncertainty associated with the length of time the children and youth were expected to spend on Manus Island, during their formative years; (v) the lack of tertiary education for those children entering adulthood; 13

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Input:
(vi) the health issues associated with the Centre, including fear of malaria as well as fear of the measures being taken to prevent malaria (medication and spraying); (vii) inadequacy of educational facilities; (viii) the unsuitability of the terrain for children to play (including areas of rocky ground, with glass shards and other debris); and, (ix) lack of access to human rights institutions and lawyers.

63. Service providers also indicated that while all efforts were being made to organize excursions and other meaningful activities, the nature of detention and the conditions at the Centre, especially the proximity to the single adult males and the lack of adequate space, had caused significant distress to the families and huge stress on the children. This stress was only likely to increase with time.

64. Since the visit, the Governments of PNG and Australia began to transfer children and their families back to Australia from Manus Island. At the time of writing, UNHCR understands all family groups, including children, have been returned to Australia from PNG.

65. In view of the current shortcomings at the temporary facility, UNHCR welcomes this development and encourages the Governments of Australia and PNG to end the transfer and detention of children at the Manus Island RPC.

66. Under international law, children should only be held in immigration detention facilities as a ‘last resort’ and for the ‘shortest appropriate period of time’. [7] 67. A child’s best interest is a primary consideration in all decisions made in relation to children, [8] and refugee children are entitled to special protection and assistance. [9] 68. While the children’s rights to education, to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities are actively promoted at the Centre, UNHCR is deeply concerned by the transfer of children to a closed detention facility with no time limit for when freedom of movement may be achieved. An overall ethic of care – and not of enforcement – is the appropriate response for all interactions with asylum-seeking children. [10] 7 CRC, art. 37 (b); UNHCR Detention Guidelines, guideline 9.2.
8 CRC, art. 3; UNHCR Detention Guidelines, guideline 9.2 [51]; UNHCR Guidelines on Determining the Best Interests of the Child; UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, General Comment 6 [31].
9 CRC, art. 22.

10 UNHCR Detention Guidelines, guideline 9.2.

14

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Input:
**Recommendations: Children**

**I.** **UNHCR recommends that children and their families not be transferred to**
**Manus Island under these arrangements.**

**J. If children are to be transferred, PNG should develop specific legal**

**measures and administrative guidance to ensure that children are treated**
**in full respect of their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the**
**Child.**

**K. In the event that, exceptionally and as a last resort, a child is detained, the**

**safety, security and well-being of that child needs to be assured.**

**L. As a matter of principle, the refugee claims of children and other**

**vulnerable groups should be prioritised for assessment and these should**
**be carried out by suitably qualified officials who are also able to conduct**
**‘best interest determinations’ (BIDs).**

_**VI.**_ _**Mental health**_ 69. Many of the asylum-seekers UNHCR met with expressed a profound sense of injustice and perceived discrimination arising from their selection for transfer to Manus Island while the vast majority of asylum-seekers who had arrived in Australia remained on Australian territory and, in many cases, had been released with freedom of movement into the Australian community.

70. All asylum-seeker groups expressed deep anxiety and said their mental health was deteriorating.

71. Despite the concerns voiced by asylum-seekers, UNHCR understands that there have been no incidents of self-harm recorded at the Manus Island facility in the period between its visits. It was clear that significant efforts of the Salvation Army and Save the Children, and the positive and empathetic approach of numerous G4S staff and officials on site are helping to defuse tensions and mitigate, as far as possible, the mental health effects of long term detention.

72. However, a number of officials and service providers to whom UNHCR spoke, expressed concerns over the likely deterioration of mental health of asylumseekers at the facility if certainty and progress was not made in processing and case resolution. UNHCR welcomed advice that a torture and trauma counselling team was expected to arrive on Manus Island in early July, to have a permanent presence.

73. While UNHCR’s Team did not include a medical officer, it noted that all asylumseekers on Manus Island displayed apparent signs of anxiety and depression.
While action to respond to this is welcome, it is regrettable that this action is remedial rather than preventative. UNHCR is left with the overall impression in the temporary RPC of a volatile environment in which otherwise minor disagreements or misunderstandings had the potential to spark significant 15

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Input:
tensions or self-harm as pressure, uncertainty and feelings of vulnerability increased among the asylum-seekers.

**Recommendations: Mental health**

**M. Against a background of deteriorating mental health on the part of the**

**asylum-seekers, the recommendations contained in this report should be**
**addressed as a matter of urgency.**

_**VII.**_ _**Physical health**_ 74. UNHCR inspected the medical facilities in the Centre. These appeared small, but well-equipped and well managed by professional and sensitive service providers. The fact that asylum-seekers had to be driven to the medical centre, rather than having direct access continued to be an issue for many.

75. At the time of the visit, there were only limited dental services available on Manus Island.

76. IHMS advised that the pre-transfer screenings which take place in Australia are very thorough and the PNG Government is very strict in requiring asylumseekers to be in good health prior to transfer, due to the tropical conditions and remote location of Manus Island.

77. Nonetheless, UNHCR noted that many asylum-seekers expressed concern about: (i) their deteriorating physical as well as mental health; (ii) the limited medical services available; (iii) the time it took to access medical treatment; (iv) the limited medication they were issued with; (v) the need for tranquillizers and sleeping pills to sleep; and (vi) the need for more specialized gynaecological resources.

_**VIII.**_ _**Assisted voluntary returns**_ 78. UNHCR was informed that recently 19 Vietnamese nationals and one Iraqi had volunteered for assisted voluntary returns (AVR) to their countries of origin. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) had spent two weeks on Manus Island to discuss the possibility of assisted voluntary returns for asylum-seekers who expressed an interest.

79. In addition, asylum-seekers were able to access IOM by telephone at any time.
ICSA and DIAC officials gave assurances that asylum-seekers were fully counselled and the voluntariness of any returns was fully explored and assured.

80. While UNHCR fully supports the need for a functional AVR programme to help any asylum-seeker return home at any time, it is concerned that some asylumseekers who may be bona fide refugees might contemplate a return to a country of origin as a result of the uncertainty around processes in PNG, and the prospect of lengthy delays in accessing a permanent solution, in onerous detention conditions. This may be particularly prevalent where asylum-seekers 16

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Input:
are reduced to a psycho-social state of hopelessness and despondency.
UNHCR considers it essential that any returns are fully informed and consensual, and not prompted by uncertainty and protracted detention.

_**IX.**_ _**Oversight and monitoring**_ 81. Within the RPC, there is a complaints mechanism accessible to asylumseekers and managed by the Salvation Army. Any complaints are referred to DIAC (as the manager of the service providers) for written response and delegated follow up as required. In this regard, UNHCR notes that in the environment of the RPC, there are few available spaces for staff to meet with asylum-seekers to discuss sensitive issues in private.

82. UNHCR recommends the Governments of PNG and Australia consider establishing an Advisory Committee which could advise them on issues arising out of the implementation of the arrangement and be a body to which the Governments might refer issues for consideration. Such an Advisory Committee has been established in the case of the Australia-Nauru transfer arrangements, and were contemplated in the Australia-Malaysia transfer arrangements. A similar advisory body would be of assistance to both States in addressing the challenges of processing in this location.

83. Such an Advisory Committee could allow the Governments to have the benefits of the advice of independent experts in various aspects of the reception, treatment and processing of claims for refugee status of asylum-seekers. It would also increase the transparency of the arrangements.

84. UNHCR appreciated full access to all areas and asylum-seekers at the RPC during its visit. It was grateful also, that the Centre Manager and senior DIAC officials indicated that they would be happy to put up posters informing asylumseekers of the contact details for UNHCR. It also understands that the ICRC also has access to the Centre, which it welcomes.

**Recommendations: Oversight and Monitoring**

**N. Australia and PNG should continue to ensure that appropriate**

**independent oversight bodies are able to gain access to asylum-seekers**
**at the Centre on Manus Island.**

**O. Australia and PNG should consider establishing an Advisory Committee**

**to provide advice to the respective Governments on issues arising out of**
**the implementation of the arrangement and be a body to which the**
**Governments might refer issues for guidance and advice.**

_**X.**_ _**Pre-transfer assessments**_ 85. As related in its 4 February 2013 Report, “special procedures for vulnerable individuals with clear pre-transfer assessments by qualified staff (including best interests determination for children, especially unaccompanied and separated 17

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Input:
children)” [17] form an integral part of the suite of measures to be agreed by the transferring States and implemented in practice by those States.

86. In the period following its 4 February Report, UNHCR has reviewed a further sample of pre-transfer assessments conducted by DIAC prior to the transfer of asylum-seekers, including Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) where undertaken by Australian officials regarding the situation of children.

87. UNHCR remains concerned by a number of aspects of the pre-transfer assessment process, including the limited scope allowed by the assessment template for analysis of individual needs and vulnerabilities. The sample assessments reviewed continue to indicate that the assessment process does not appear to make a comprehensive analysis of the physical and mental characteristics (physical or mental health of the persons, special needs identified, fitness to travel, and other vulnerabilities), nor, apparently, are the actual resources at the RPC given adequate weight and consideration.

88. In the case of children, UNHCR considers a BIA should result in an individualized assessment of the situation of the child and include recommendations on protection and care interventions. [11] 89. UNHCR remains of the view that the legal framework and detention environment at the Manus Island facility fall short of international standards of protection, it is difficult to see how a determination of the best interests of transferee children, appropriately weighed, could lead to a conclusion that adequate and appropriate levels of care and support are currently available on the island. The recent transfer of children and their families to Australia, which UNHCR welcomes, appears to support this finding.

**Recommendations: Pre Transfer Assessments**

**P. Pre-transfer assessments conducted in Australia should fully take into**

**account the individualized needs of vulnerable individuals, including**
**children, the elderly, survivors of torture or trauma, disabled persons and**
**persons with specific health needs.**

**Q. Pre-transfer assessments should also contain a realistic assessment of**

**the actual quality of support and capacities of service providers on PNG,**
**within the legal, operational and physical conditions currently prevailing.**

90. UNHCR stands ready to provide technical advice or assistance to the Governments of PNG and Australia in effecting the changes recommended in this report.

UNHCR Regional Representation Canberra, 12 July 2013 11 UNHCR, Field Handbook for the Implementation of UNHCR BID Guidelines (November 2011), 7.

18

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Input:
# **The 2014 Afghanistan Refugee and Returnee Overview**

**Mandated lead agency: UNHCR**
**Contact information: Clare Askew, Assistant Programme Officer askew@unhcr.org**

PEOPLE IN NEED

# 515,600

(Pakistani refugees, Afghan returnees and undocumented vulnerable returnees)

# OF PARTNERS
(NOTE: UNHCR lead refugee response working with 16 partners) PEOPLE TARGETED

# 30,000 Pakistani

refugee families

# 245,600 Afghan

refugee returnees

# 45,000 Afghan

undocumented vulnerable returnees REQUIREMENTS (US$)
# 62.82 million

**Key objectives**

- Provide 30,000 refugee families with protection and essential services in Khost and Paktika;

- Facilitate informed, voluntary repatriation of refugees as a key humanitarian focus for Afghan
refugees from Pakistan, Iran and other non-neighbouring countries;

- Deliver humanitarian and return assistance to 45,000 vulnerable undocumented Afghan
returnees from Iran and Pakistan consisting of deportees and returnees including those displaced from North Waziristan Agency.

**Chapter** **Core Activities**

Pakistani Refugees - Improve or maintain quality of registration and profiling

- Ensure uniform treatment and standards of protection and services for all refugees

- Foster security from violence and exploitation: protection of children strengthened, risk of SGBV is
reduced and quality of response improved

- Provide food assistance to meet immediate food needs

Afghan refugee returnees - Respond to immediate protection needs on return, with particular focus on cash grants to facilitate travel and short term integration needs, and referrals where appropriate

- Identify persons with specific needs

- Broaden scope of Returnee Monitoring to identify protection concerns in return areas and address
gaps

- Promote peaceful coexistence between returnees and local communities by identifying tensions or
scarce resources and advocating for interventions with relevant actors to mitigate potential repeated displacement Afghan undocumented vulnerable returnees

- Provide immediate protection services including screening, identification of Persons with Specific
Needs and first hand humanitarian assistance.

- Provide transportation to final destination

- Support the most vulnerable groups with flexible short term reintegration support

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Input:
**Humanitarian Needs Overview: District vulnerability ranking matrix for refugees**

**Absorption**

**Capacity**
**Vulnerability**

**District**
**Province** **District**

**ID**

**Refugee**
**Population**
**Vulnerability**

**Unmet Needs**

**Vulnerability**

**Access**
**Vulnerability**

**Wash**
**Vulnerability**

**Overall**
**Ranking**

**Khost** Gurbuz 2607 1.00 1.00 0.73 0.21 1.00 # 0.79

Spera 2611 0.52 0.56 0.94 0.95 0.76 0.74 Tere Zayi (Alishir) 2608 0.27 0.16 0.22 0.74 0.84 0.44 Shamal-Lakan 2610 0.26 0.50 0.14 0.21 0.87 0.39 Mando Zayi 2605 0.21 0.10 0.09 0.53 0.84 0.35 Sabari 2602 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.84 0.79 0.33 Tani 2606 0.18 0.08 0.05 0.53 0.64 0.29 Khost (Matun) 2601 0.37 0.07 0.35 - 0.57 0.27 Nadir Shah Kot 2604 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.53 0.79 0.16 Jaji Maydan 2613 - - - - - 0.00 Musa Khel 2603 - - - - - 0.00 Qalandar 2609 - - - - - 0.00 Bak 2612 - - - - - 0.00

**Total Khost**

**Paktika** Barmal 2515 0.85 0.64 1.00 1.00 0.79 0.86

Urgoon 2510 0.02 0.01 0.04 1.00 0.79 0.37 Wazakhwah 2513 0.00 0.01 0.01 1.00 0.79 0.36 Surubi 2509 0.00 0.01 0.00 1.00 0.79 0.36 Paktika Center (Sharan) 2501 - - - - Mata Khan 2502 - - - - Yosuf Khel 2503 - - - - Yahya Khel 2506 - - - - Sar Rawza 2504 - - - - Omna 2507 - - - - Zarghun Shahr 2505 - - - - Gomal 2508 - - - - Jani Khel 2512 - - - - Ziruk 2517 - - - - Nika 2511 - - - - Giyan 2516 - - - - DilaWa Khushamand 2518 - - - - Wormamay 2514 - - - - Turwo 2519 - - - - -

**Total Paktika**

**Calculation of Coefficients**

- Families in Need = Refugee Families - Families that Received NFIs

- Refugee Population Vulnerability = Refugee Population / Highest district Refugee Population;

- Absorption Capacity Vulnerability = Refugee Population / Local Population

`o` (The coefficients thus obtained were normalized, so that they would all be in the range from 0 to 1)

- Unmet Needs Vulnerability = Refugee Families / Highest district Refugee Families

- Overall ranking = Unweighted average of specific rankings

2 |

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Input:
**Humanitarian Needs Overview: Provincial vulnerability ranking matrix for all returnees**

**Returnees from**
**Pakistan, Iran and**

**other countries**

**(Individuals)**

**Vulnerable**
**Undocumented**
**Migrant Returnees**

**Total returnee**
**population (refugee**
**and undocumented)**

**Province**

**Last 3 years** **Last 3 years** **Total**

Badakhshan 279 1,409 1,688 935,327 0.0018 0.01 0.09 0.05 Badghis 180 972 1,152 487,838 0.0024 0.01 0.12 0.07 Baghlan 7,032 4,155 11,187 894,838 0.0125 0.25 0.66 0.45 Balkh 6,012 2,836 8,848 1,298,247 0.0068 0.21 0.36 0.28 Bamyan 513 670 1,183 439,899 0.0027 0.02 0.14 0.08 Daykundi 182 1,694 1,876 417,476 0.0045 0.01 0.24 0.12 Farah 1,835 4,853 6,688 498,951 0.0134 0.06 0.70 0.38 Faryab 1,636 2,799 4,435 981,197 0.0045 0.06 0.24 0.15 Ghazni 1,497 1,888 3,385 1,208,559 0.0028 0.05 0.15 0.10 Ghor 78 1,863 1,941 679,085 0.0029 0.00 0.15 0.08 Hilmand 4,762 1,532 6,294 909,395 0.0069 0.17 0.36 0.27 Hirat 7,599 5,356 12,955 1,852,790 0.0070 0.27 0.37 0.32 Jawzjan 2,718 1,014 3,732 530,751 0.0070 0.10 0.37 0.23 Kabul 24,397 4,971 29,368 4,227,261 0.0069 0.86 0.36 0.61 Kandahar 8,262 764 9,026 1,200,929 0.0075 0.29 0.39 0.34 Kapisa 655 1,224 1,879 433,867 0.0043 0.02 0.23 0.13 Khost 1,313 32 1,345 565,211 0.0024 0.05 0.12 0.09 Kunar 8,159 945 9,104 443,272 0.0205 0.29 1.08 0.68 Kunduz 15,024 6,703 21,727 990,937 0.0219 0.53 1.15 0.84 Laghman 5,357 1,967 7,324 438,346 0.0167 0.19 0.88 0.53 Logar 4,600 670 5,270 385,638 0.0137 0.16 0.72 0.44 Nangarhar 28,406 10,389 38,795 1,489,787 0.0260 1.00 1.37 1.18 Nimroz 180 20,842 21,022 162,135 0.1297 0.01 6.80 3.40 Nuristan 264 4 268 145,574 0.0018 0.01 0.10 0.05 Paktika 183 232 415 427,692 0.0010 0.01 0.05 0.03 Paktya 5,255 118 5,373 542,896 0.0099 0.18 0.52 0.35 Panjsher 276 98 374 151,004 0.0025 0.01 0.13 0.07 Parwan 2,241 1,205 3,446 653,362 0.0053 0.08 0.28 0.18 Samangan 645 378 1,023 381,459 0.0027 0.02 0.14 0.08 Sar-e-Pul 2,392 2,193 4,585 550,238 0.0083 0.08 0.44 0.26 Takhar 2,378 3,336 5,714 966,576 0.0059 0.08 0.31 0.20 Uruzgan 95 254 349 380,469 0.0009 0.00 0.05 0.03 Wardak 939 911 1,850 586,623 0.0032 0.03 0.17 0.10 Zabul 573 231 804 299,125 0.0027 0.02 0.14 0.08

**Total** **145,917** **88,508** **234,425**

3 |

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Input:
**PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS**
**Refugees and undocumented vulnerable migrant returnees displaced to Khost and Paktika**

**I. MOST LIKELY SCENARIO**
Key assumptions: 1) Military operations and fighting in Pakistan (North and South Waziristan agencies) may cease but the population will probably gradually return to Pakistan after March/April due to destruction of infrastructure, winter and reduced opportunities for livelihood in the area of origin. If the fighting continues, it is expected that there will be limited population movements towards Afghanistan as it will be difficult to travel during the winter months.
Thus, refugee population is expected to stabilize.
2) Absorption capacity of the host families will decrease during winter and as resources are exhausted, thus, the population figure in the camp may increase.

Operational Assumptions: 1) Humanitarian access will continue to be limited, it is estimated that national and international organizations, including Government have 60% access in Khost and 20% access in Paktika.
2) Humanitarian community and local authorities will continue to receive sufficient resources from donors.

Refugee Response Plan 1) Planning Figure: 30,000 families ( _planning figure is subject to verification_ *).
2) Area of Operation: Khost and Paktika (limited reach/access in Paktika) Operational Priorities 1) Registration and provision of international protection (*verification exercise is planned in the course of the 2014/15) 2) Provision of humanitarian assistance, with a focus on moving away from emergency towards stabilization, including sectors such as shelter, education and health/WASH 3) Humanitarian assistance to focus on supporting host communities to continue providing assistance to the influx 4) Assistance to the host communities is on a community-basis and not individual-basis, with a focus on integrating development actors as early as possible 5) Switch to durable solutions, with a focus on facilitation of voluntary return, in second half of the year (May to October) 6) Monitoring with specific focus on Protection issues

**II. WORST CASE SCENARIO**
Key Assumptions: 1) Military Operations continue outside NW/SW and more refugees arrive in Afghanistan 2) Host communities lose all absorption capacity and large numbers of refugees need to be hosted in additional camps Operational assumptions: 1) Security worsens: No access to Paktika and more restricted access in Khost 2) Lack of donor interest Population Figures: 1) 40,000 families: 30,000 families in Khost and 10,000 in Paktika, of which 15,000 in camps in Khost.

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Input:
**Afghan refugee returnees**
While there are fewer returnees as compared to the peak years (2002-2008), Afghanistan is still the largest repatriation operation in the world. Refugees surveyed in Pakistan cited increased insecurity and economic concerns as the two biggest reasons for their continued stay in exile, in particular due to the uncertainty and heightened risk of tensions over the election period in 2014.

For 2015, and based on regional consultations, UNHCR anticipates that refugees will continue to return to Afghanistan from Pakistan, Iran and other countries, with a possible slight increase on 2014 election year figures. The validity of the Proof of Registration cards (PoR) for Afghans in Pakistan has been extended until December 2015 and it is unclear what status refugees in Pakistan will have after this date.

For 2015 planning purposes, UNHCR will use the figure of 172,000 Afghan refugee returnees. While there may be progress towards the planning figure of 172,000 returnees- during 2015, UNHCR Afghanistan shall channel prioritized operating level resources towards a more realistic figure of 50,000 refugees returning. However, of those returning the vulnerability figures are expected to be higher than previous years, with refugees repatriating who may be facing increasing intimidation, deteriorating economic opportunities or the possibility of camp closure in countries of asylum.
Therefore an increase of people with specific needs is anticipated, identified on their return.

The total number of refugee returnees receiving UNHCR reintegration assistance in 2015 is estimated at 245,600, including both those arrivals in 2015, and those having returned during 20122014.

**Undocumented vulnerable returnees**
Afghanistan is expected to continue through a series of transitions: political, economic and security.
The uncertainty associated with these transitions will continue to impact population movement in and surrounding Afghanistan. In addition, the flow of deportations and voluntary return is largely contingent on a combination of regional political dynamics between Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries, which may impact their policies towards undocumented Afghans. As it is almost unpredictable to ascertain what could affect the migration trend and what would be the result, it is important to maintain the post-arrival assistance mechanism at the border points to be the base of collective response for possible mass return from Iran or Pakistan. The sudden displacement from North Waziristan Agency following military operations in Pakistan since June 2014 is a good example.

Since 2007, there were 200,000-300,000 Afghans deported per year from Iran and Pakistan. Every year since 2012, IOM has assisted between 30,000 and 40,000 identified vulnerable Afghan returnees who crossed through Islam Qala in Herat, Milak in Nimroz and Torkham in Nangarhar province. Since May 2014, IOM has also assisted over 500 identified Afghan undocumented families displaced from North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan to Khost and Paktika province. In 2015, based on above observations as well as previously assisted numbers, IOM predicts that the flow of movement from the three border crossing points with Iran and Pakistan will remain at a similar level as in 2014.
Regarding the undocumented Afghan families from North Waziristan Agency arriving in Khost/Paktika, under the most likely scenario, the flow is expected to stabilize. However, in 2014 undocumented Afghan families are still leaving Pakistan due to ongoing insecurity and will require assistance in 2015.

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Input:
**1.** **IDENTIFIED NEEDS**

**Pakistani Refugees**
Based on Focus Group Discussions conducted with both refugees and members of host communities, UNHCR has sought to identify the immediate needs and protection risks faced by Pakistani refugees, as well as the impact on host communities since the beginning of the displacement in June 2014. The most urgent need that has emerged is shelter: while the host communities have been very welcoming and have readily opened their homes to refugees, in some districts the number of refugees is very close to the local population. Available accommodation (as well as other resources) is therefore very limited, particularly as winter approaches and sleeping in open air is no longer possible. Other priority needs emerging from the focus group discussions included NFIs, health care, and water. Refugees also cited poverty, lack of job opportunities, and limited resources in Afghanistan as increasing existing vulnerabilities.

While the displaced population tends to share close family, tribal, and friendship ties amongst themselves and with the host community, there have nonetheless been identified cases of women, elderly, and children without support, though these are limited in number. UNHCR plans to conduct interventions for these and other vulnerable categories through the persons with specific needs (PSN) programming. Other planned protection interventions include camp management, mine clearance and mine risk education, emergency education, identifying and addressing gender based violence issues, identification and necessary interventions on behalf of unaccompanied and separated children, family tracing, and protection monitoring. It is also anticipated that the lack of resources and livelihood opportunities will make it difficult for refugees to return to Pakistan when the security situation stabilizes sufficiently to allow for voluntary repatriation. Therefore, it is anticipated that UNHCR will provide assistance when refugees decide that conditions have improved sufficiently to allow them to return home.

**Returnees**
The prioritised focus of UNHCR’s operations in Afghanistan will remain the implementation of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees in cooperation with the Government. UNHCR will continue to provide assistance to refugee returnees at all stages of the return process, including providing information in the countries of asylum and facilitation of joint ‘go-and-see’ visits, as specified in the quadripartite agreement. UNHCR will work to ensure that return is informed, voluntary, and sustainable.

The absorption capacity in Afghanistan remains challenging. Despite some progress in the health, education, construction, trade and agriculture sectors since 2001, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The deteriorating security situation and withdrawal of international security forces, high levels of unemployment, landlessness, limited access to basic services (particularly in areas of high return and disputes over property rights will continue to present impediments to return and reintegration.

Reintegration of refugee returnees cannot be viewed as being facilitated solely by humanitarian interventions. Humanitarian assistance must be complemented with development interventions to ensure sustainability of interventions. Therefore building partnerships with development actors is a key priority for the operation, which must be closely monitored. In large urban settings and provincial capitals, development actors have been reluctant to engage despite the obvious need. The lack of development contributes to growing insecurity and the presence of insurgents. This cycle of poverty and insecurity in turn results in continuously increasing displacement both inside and outside these provinces. Returnees are particularly vulnerable to forced internal displacement.

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Input:
The primary focus of all UNHCR interventions, both immediate humanitarian assistance and longerterm integration, is to advance protection principles. In some cases, this will involve addressing protection concerns directly, for instance, through SGBV support projects, or legal assistance programmes. In others, it may involve undertaking activities that will lead to a future protection dividend, for instance, livelihood projects that result in a reduced risk of secondary displacement.
Assistance that is able to bring about a protection dividend shall be prioritized: for example, building a well in a location where it is likely to create a more harmonious relationship between IDPs and the host community. UNHCR will strengthen the capacity of communities to integrate and protect returnees and IDPs, as well as increase the incentives and reduce the cost for communities. At the same time, UNHCR will encourage returnees and IDPs to contribute to local communities through participation in local governance.

Reliable information on the numbers, location and condition of returnees – disaggregated by age, gender and other key indicators – is essential for improving the protection of returnees. Thus, Information Management forms a keystone of the protection strategy. In order to gather information and ensure that programmes are sensitive to the specific protection needs and capabilities of different groups, UNHCR aims to undertake regular rights-based, participatory assessments and monitoring visits to both IDPs and returnees, engaging Age, Gender and Diversity mainstreaming principles.

Secondly, UNHCR will reach out to government and development actors to encourage them to mainstream returnees into their existing programmes. The aim is to bridge the humanitarian / development divide, thus ensuring persons of concern continue to receive protection after the immediate “humanitarian” phase has passed and are ultimately able to achieve a durable solution.
UNHCR recognizes that many returnees wish to live in urban areas, which poses specific challenges to both humanitarian and development responses. In light of this trend, UNHCR’s pursuit to the right to freedom of movement is essential, particularly to ensure that no returnee should be forced to return to their place of origin, or be resettled to another place where their lives or safety are threatened.

**Undocumented vulnerable returnees**
Many deportees and spontaneous returnees arrive in Afghanistan in a highly vulnerable physical and mental state and are unprepared for the process of reintegrating into their home communities.
Humanitarian support continues to be required to prevent vulnerable undocumented returnee families and individuals from being at risk of death, secondary displacement, sexual abuse, kidnap and other kinds of violation of human rights upon their return. Recently conducted surveys confirm that short-term, post-arrival assistance continues to be a key need upon return as 73% of respondents from Herat, Nangarhar and Nimroz listed it as one of the top three concerns followed by shelter/housing (44%) and financial support (30%).

For Afghan families displaced from North Waziristan into Khost and Paktika, the largest need in 2015 will continue to be non-food items, food, tents and medical assistance. In addition, families have indicated the need for transport and reintegration assistance as many are not able to return back to Pakistan.

For many returning Afghan migrants, reintegration remains a challenge. In 2011, an IOM survey of returned migrants found that only 23.3% of respondents had been able to find paid employment. As described above for refugee returnees, for undocumented returnees there is also a need to integrate long term reintegration support within humanitarian assistance. In particular, IOM has identified an urgent need for direct reintegration support for specific, highly vulnerable PSN groups of non-refugee returnees with high protection risks, which includes unaccompanied minors and single female returnees.

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Input:
Unaccompanied migrant children continue to be the largest single group of vulnerable non-refugee returnees assisted by IOM since 2009. Minors move primarily due to lack of employment opportunities in Afghanistan, and because the heads of their families had no form of income or were not producing sufficient income. While in the country of exile (Iran) and in the process of deportation, many report facing treatment which is concerning from a protection standpoint. There is an urgent need to intervene and avoid secondary displacement by providing minors and their families with means of generating income while providing minors primarily with education and a practical skill set.

Another vulnerable group are single female returnees who face particularly high protection risks and reintegration challenges. A majority of these women were in need of shelter and vocational training to resume their lives in Afghanistan. Other groups include non-refugee returnee families who were displaced from North Waziristan Agency due to military operations who are unable to return back to their homes as well as drug-addicted individuals.

2. **RESPONSE STRATEGY**

**Registration**
Given its centrality to understanding the refugee population, profile, and vulnerabilities, all of which are crucial to designing appropriate and effective interventions, registration is a priority activity for 2015. Due to significant logistical challenges, mostly linked to large numbers of new arrivals and a lack of access due to insecurity, assessments of refugee families have until now been conducted at the household level on the basis of emergency verification. These assessments are being conducted for the purpose of fixing population figures and assistance distribution, and are not intended for refugee status determination purposes or the issuance of documentation.

At this point in time, transitioning to individual registration will help to stabilize the numbers and facilitate planning further assistance targeting the most vulnerable among the population. The exact modalities of the registration exercise are being discussed with the Government of Afghanistan, and a mission from Geneva is planned to identify the feasible registration options for this context. The authorities may consider the issuance of documentation for refugees, while UNHCR will continue to maintain and update a database system for all refugees in Khost and Paktika.

The registration campaign will require significant resources, both in terms of human resources and logistics. It is estimated that it will be carried out in the first three months of 2015 in all districts of Khost and Paktika with refugee presence. The exercise will pave the way for the development of targeted longer-term strategies for durable solutions, facilitate voluntary repatriation when appropriate and help to identify vulnerable individuals.

**Protection Interventions**
In coordination with relevant partners, UNHCR will undertake core protection activities additional to registration in all districts, including assistance to vulnerable cases under the PSN programme (nonfood items and cash assistance of up to USD 500 over one year for chronic and very vulnerable cases), legal assistance, child protection and gender/GBV interventions. The humanitarian community will also continue to carry out focus group discussions along an AGDM (Age, Gender and Disability Mainstreaming) approach with refugee men, women, and young people both in the communities and in the camp. The purpose of these discussions will be to highlight protection and assistance needs of refugees. Separate focus group discussions will be conducted with the host communities.

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Input:
The entry point for child protection is primarily through the provision of educational services, which include psychosocial support. In Khost, emergency education is being implemented in a partnership between the provincial Department of Education, NRC and UNICEF, and includes both children in Gulan Camp and children living in communities. In Paktika, where the only implementing partner is the Department of Education, teachers in the refugee population have been hired by the DoE to run temporary learning centres, and will receive training and support to provide psychosocial services to children as part of the educational programme. Additional child protection activities will focus on the identification of unaccompanied minors (UAMs) and separated children (SC). Cases involving UAMs will be sent to the Best Interest Determination (BID) committee for identification of appropriate care arrangements, while SCs will be monitored and referred to the BID committee in cases in which neglect, abuse, or other problems in existing care arrangements are identified. Cases will be referred to ICRC for family tracing as appropriate.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) work will focus in identification of cases at risk through awarenessraising and establishment of effective communication networks through which GBV incidents or risk factors can be reported. Participation by refugee women in focus group discussions and recentlyestablished women’s _shuras_ in Gulan Camp and host communities will help to give voice to protection risks and concerns, which can then be mitigated through appropriate interventions.
UNHCR will also seek to establish an effective referral system, ensure coordination with relevant national authorities and provide vocational training and educational opportunities to vulnerable female and male groups.

The provision of services to the local population is essential to avoid the perception amongst host communities that the refugees constitute a burden on the community or existing local services.
Accordingly, it is important to ensure that services and activities are provided for both the hosting communities and the refugees

**Afghan Refugee Returnees**
Afghanistan is the largest repatriation operation in the world, despite the fact that rates of return are much lower compared to the peak years between 2002 and 2008. In total, more than 5.8 million Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan in the last 12 years; over 4.7 million returned with UNHCR and MoRR support. This figure represents over 20% of the current population in Afghanistan. This poses considerable challenges to the country’s absorption capacity.

For 2015 planning purposes, this plan will use the conservative figure of 50,000 Afghan refugee returnees, in need of life-saving assistance to return to their place of origin/intended destination in Afghanistan.

Prioritized activities include immediate return assistance needs (cash grants, travel assistance, and short-term integration needs and shelter assistance), protection activities (including legal representation), and community-based interventions promoting peaceful co-existence. Activities include the following:

- Ensuring provision of immediate return assistance (repatriation cash grants, travel assistance,
provision of non-food items and shelter assistance), protection and basic assistance at point of entry; supporting education registration, lifesaving healthcare, and essential vaccinations for children under 5 years of age; basic mine awareness and transit facilities;

- Cross-border monitoring, returnee tracking, profiling and an annual multi-functional
comprehensive needs assessment;

- Providing legal assistance to help obtain security of land tenure to reduce the threat of forced
evictions;

- Promoting targeted community-based interventions in areas of high return, including in urban
settings where increasing numbers of returnees are settling; 9 |

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Input:
- Awareness-raising for the purpose of reducing the risk of GBV and strengthening reporting
mechanisms; providing appropriate referrals and assistance to GBV victims; strengthening national capacity for sustainable reintegration through an integrated approach aimed at facilitating the transition from humanitarian assistance to long-term development.

The most vulnerable returnees, including female-headed households and unaccompanied minors will be prioritized for the provision of shelter and access to basic services on arriving at their place of return.

In 2015, UNHCR will conduct an annual needs assessments through a multi-functional team involving both humanitarian and development actors to assess refugee returnee needs across Afghanistan, within all sectors. Focus group discussions will be conducted according to the principles of the AGDM/Gender Marking approach. The multi-functional team consists of Protection and Shelter Cluster regional coordinators in all regions, with Health, WASH and FSAC Cluster members in respective regions. Focus group discussions will be conducted separately for returnee women, girls, boys and men.

Housing, land and property disputes are problematic due to limited availability of land (including agricultural land, pasture, and 'high value' land in cities), water, firewood and fodder and aggravated by environmental degradation. Some of these disputes also result in displacement, which has historical social, environmental, economic and political contexts. Therefore, UNHCR and partners will ensure that all assessments, programming and advocacy efforts will adhere to a 'Do No Harm' framework and that conflict-sensitive solutions provided by UNHCR and other partners are grounded in environmental protection and sustainability.

Shelter and basic services assistance will be provided through a community-based approach, which will strengthen resilience through self-help programmes contributing to promoting peaceful coexistence within the communities. The community takes primary responsibility for identifying eligible beneficiaries to receive shelter assistance, while the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MORR), other local authorities, implementing partners, and multi-functional team members play advisory and coordination roles.

The shelter Beneficiary Selection Committee must include members of the Community Development Councils (CDCs) where present or the provincial, district, village shura, (committee of elders and trustees), or local authorities (district authorities, provincial representatives of MORR). Joint monitoring will be carried out through established communication channels with beneficiaries, including on land and property issues such as land disputes, ownership, women’s access and control of land, engaging with government for relocation sites, social and housing issues. The shelter package includes one latrine per family, thereby increasing environmental hygiene in beneficiary communities. The shelter programme seeks to contribute to local economies wherever possible by using skilled and unskilled labour in the local market, and by local procurement of raw materials.

UNHCR will continue supporting the Afghan Government’s efforts to develop the role of women and has a strong commitment to the participation of women in decision making and project implementation. Recognising the challenges of facilitating female participation, all interventions strive to involve women in selection, implementation, monitoring, and management to the greatest extent possible within regionally and culturally appropriate contexts.

**Undocumented vulnerable returnees**
The planned target group in 2015 are 45,000 of the most vulnerable undocumented Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan including those families displaced from North Waziristan Agency who are in need of live-saving assistance and return assistance to their province of origin.

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Input:
Under the framework of its post-arrival humanitarian assistance, IOM will provide a comprehensive set of services starting with initial screening and referral of identified vulnerable undocumented Afghan returnees according to its established vulnerability criteria in coordination with the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). This will be followed by provision of non-food item (NFI) kits, food packages for families in need, health screening and referral, and provision of overnight accommodation and services at a transit centre. If needed, family tracing will be carried out for vulnerable individuals including unaccompanied minors. Protection screening and psycho-social counselling will also be provided in light of observed trend of some beneficiaries suffering from experiences while in detention or deportation procedures. Legal counselling, including facilitating registration for E-Tazkira at transit centres will also be made available for returnees.

The above humanitarian actions will be complemented by direct reintegration support to specific highly vulnerable groups of non-refugee returnees with high protection risks. For these groups, IOM plans to respond to their needs by providing different forms of direct reintegration support through a flexible reintegration package. As an example, single female returnees will receive shelter and reintegration and educational training support at the transit centre in Herat. IOM will most importantly conduct a local market assessment of which income generating activities they could carry out in light of their vulnerable socio-economic status (e.g. home-based activities) after which they will be provided with literacy and other educational training. For UAMs, IOM plans to provide educational and skills training for the minors while providing vocational trainings/business development package to heads of households which are suited to labour market demands. These activities will involve DoRR as well as Directorate of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled in order to strengthen their capacity in return and reintegration assistance.

Provision of vocational training or educational assistance to these groups will not only support their sustainable reintegration but also support to mitigate various risks such as; becoming a victim of human trafficking or engaging in irregular migration, increasing their vulnerability to a host of other protection risks.

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Input:
**The following sectors are solely in response to the Pakistani Refugees**

**Protection**
The provision of services to the local population is essential to avoid the perception amongst host communities that the refugees constitute a burden on the community, or on existing local services and the environment, potentially inflaming feelings of resentment. Accordingly, it is important to ensure that services and activities are provided for both the hosting communities and the refugees, such as maintaining or improving the local infrastructure (roads, hospitals, and schools) and ensuring access to resources including water.

Registration is a priority activity and will help UNHCR and partners to better understand the refugee population, profile and vulnerabilities. This exercise will pave the way for development of longerterm strategies, design effective interventions and facilitate voluntary repatriation and. Other protection concerns include access to social services, particularly health care; family separation, including unaccompanied or separated children; presence of single women and elderly without support within the population; access and mobility for disabled; the risk of human trafficking; access to assistance by all community members, particularly women and girls; and the risk of mines and unexploded ordnances both in the camp and in communities.

**Camp Management**
Currently, there is only one camp and it is located in Gurboz District, Khost Province. No provision is being made for additional camps, however if the Government decides to open more refugee camps, additional funding will be required. Approximately 3,500 families live in Gulan Camp and it is expected to reach at least 4,000 by January, climbing to 5,000 families by spring. The overall objectives are to provide life-saving assistance and support refuges in organizing themselves to better their conditions in the camp and provide a safe and secure environment where refugees can exercise their rights. In particular, UNHCR will continue to undertake basic site planning and infrastructure work in the camp, security measures in coordination with the authorities, as well as shelter.

Camp Governance: UNHCR foresees the following community services as essential in order to promote representation and good governance in Gulan Camp: i) In order to allow community feedback, weekly meetings are held with the camp _shura_, a structure of elders, each representing an average number of 50 families; ii) Dialogue with refugee _Jirga_ and linkage to local _Jirga_ system as appropriate, as well as referrals to formal justice system; iii) Dialogue and activities with female refugees, within a very traditional and conservative context that generally prevents women from moving outside the confines of the family compound; iv) Display of information on services and announcements Site planning and infrastructure: The importance of preserving and promoting a sense of community within the camp is paramount, and will reflect existing community structures. Camp planning is ongoing and should see further developments once the number of refugees is stabilized (with the possibility of a harsh winter, it may be expected that the refugee population currently in the mountainous areas south and south-east of Gulan, in Gurboz district, may decide to settle in Gulan camp). Some of the activities that will take place in the first half of 2015 include: comprehensive drainage system, access roads, construction of four community centres, improvement of warehousing and distribution facilities and construction of basic support services. In parallel, each extended family will be assigned a plot, in a way that preserves the existing settlement pattern in the camp (extended families, sub-tribes, tribes). Site planning will take into consideration possible 12 |

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Input:
further extension of the camp to the south and west. Site planning and basic infrastructure will be done to the extent possible using refugees and local communities, thus providing Cash-for-Work opportunities.

Shelter: Winterization of tents is likely to be largely finished by January 2015. Given the average life expectancy of a tent, the humanitarian community expects to have to replace tents or provide alternative shelter for 5,000 families in the camp in the second quarter of 2015. Decisions on shelter strategy (tents or emergency to transitional shelter) will be taken towards the end of the first quarter based on assessments of refugees’ intentions of returning to Pakistan.

Security: The humanitarian community will continue to support the local authorities, who are planning to deploy an additional 53 ANP to provide security surrounding the perimeter of Gulan Camp on a 24-hour basis. Within the camp, support is also required for the deployment of local guards on a 24-hour basis, as well as helping refugees to organize a community watch system.

**Shelter and infrastructure/NFIs for hosted communities**
With the exception of protection activities, Quick Impact Projects (QIPS) for peaceful co-existence and shelter, the humanitarian community does not plan to have large-scale interventions for refugees in host communities, but instead encourages an approach that incorporates refugees into development assistance of the communities. As part of the transitional strategy, advocacy efforts will ensure that the local government includes refugees in service delivery and development plans.

In coordination with other partners with a strong track record in shelter as a durable solution, the shelter operational organisations will develop a strategy to begin in the second half of 2015, after a re-assessment of the situation in the spring. The strategy will be influenced by refugees’ intentions regarding return and will support local communities hosting large number of refugees. In the first half of 2015, shelter will continue to be handled within the emergency response framework, taking into account the need for additional protection against the elements during the first months of the year.

The humanitarian community will continue to provide basic non-food items for all new arrivals as well as replacing part of the non-food items package (plastic sheets, jerry cans and blankets) on a needs basis for up to 4,000 families in Khost and Paktika; as well as on an emergency basis for persons with specific needs. A total of 2,500 tents will be distributed also on a needs basis.
Operational partners are revising distribution modalities in order to make them more effective in ensuring predictable and equitable distribution in all communities, as well as Gulan Camp.

**Water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)**
In 2015, the WASH partners will continue to support both refugees and host communities in Khost and Paktika. Emergency WASH response will continue to focus on life-saving activities including rehabilitation/disinfection of water points (WP), rehabilitation of pipe schemes, water disinfection, distribution of hygiene kits and provision of sanitation infrastructure. The construction of new WPs and sustainable sanitation infrastructures will also be considered as an option in the districts that are under-covered.

Based on refugee’s figures and results of the assessments conducted in 2014, nine districts were identified as priority targets for WASH. In Khost province, in order of priority: (1) Gurboz, (2) Khost Center/Lakan, (3) Mandozayi, (4) Terezayi, (5) Spera, (6) Tani and (7) Matoon Shamal. In Paktika province, the priorities are Barmal and Urgun districts. Barmal is poorly accessible for security reasons. In Khost province, the needs of 128,137 individuals were assessed (29,200 refugees and 98,937 individuals in the host community), using a Rapid Assessment Form to collect quantitative 13 |

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Input:
data at village/community level. In Paktika province, the survey was carried out in two districts (Barmal and Urgun) using qualitative data collection methods (key informant interview and FGD).

Based on the assessments results, the partners in Khost and Paktika have started to respond to acute needs in 2014 and will pursue their efforts in 2015 to reach the selected targets. The activities foreseen in 2015 are detailed in the annex and will cover the acute WASH needs of the affected population where accessibility is granted.

To prepare for a possible additional refugee crisis in 2015, the WASH cluster will reinforce its operational capacity, among others in developing standard assessment forms, strengthening its contingency plan and training key resources at decentralized levels. Under the oversight of the WASH cluster, partners will be supported in conducting Rapid Assessment and data processing within two weeks following onset of a crisis. Additional decision-making tools will be made available such as a standard WASH Comprehensive Assessment Tool (CAT) and technical guidelines to implement rapid live saving activities

**Emergency Health and Nutrition**
The 2014 Humanitarian Needs Overview shows both provinces were among the 13 high-risk provinces identified, to which additional resources from the Common Humanitarian Fund are being used. There was no allocation for emergency primary healthcare services in inaccessible areas, nor treatment of malnutrition in 2014 but it is estimated that the refugees will require substantial nutrition services in 2015. Khost also ranked high with regard to the prevalence of malnutrition with 18.2%; well above the emergency threshold of 15%. In Paktika, the overall malnutrition rates stand at 8.7%. The targets for the Nutrition cluster are calculated using the overall need for the refugees and assuming 50% coverage due to insecurity in many parts of Paktika as well as partner capacity to scale up in the two provinces.

Utilizing existing resources, the Nutrition cluster is currently working on a modality to conduct nutrition surveys in the area in order to assess the nutritional status of the refugee population. It will also determine whether the additional burden for hosting communities may further exacerbate the already high malnutrition rates, particularly in Khost. If the situation worsens, additional funds will be required in order to adequately respond to the need.

The spread of contagious but preventable diseases, such as measles, polio and Pertussis are high due to very low vaccination coverage of the refugee population. Outbreak of diarrhoeal disease, including cholera is a major concern for both the refugee population and hosting communities, due to the water scarcity in the summer season, endemic prevalence of such diseases and increased population with poor hygiene practices. The health system in both provinces has no capacity to handle a major cholera outbreak, thus cholera treatment centres are urgently required.

In addition to communicable diseases, the situation merits scaling up of routine primary healthcare services, particularly with regard to maternal and child health and mental health care. It is known that refugee populations in a camp or among host community suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The large influx has overburdened the health service providers; as such there is a dire need for additional support to meet the increased demand.

**Food Security**
Since the onset of refugees entering Khost and Paktika in mid-2014, assessments have indicated food assistance to be a top priority. WFP began its emergency food assistance to Pakistani refugees with an initial caseload of 1,500 households. The total number of families supported by WFP has now reached nearly 23,000 households, with an expectation that this may increase to at least 30,000 households in the coming months, based on the current, most-likely scenario. Food distributions will 14 |

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at all times focus on most vulnerable populations, who are scattered in 12 districts in Khost and Paktika provinces. The majority are concentrated in Khost centre, Matun, Gulan camp in Gurboz and Bermal district in Paktika. To date, WFP has distributed a total of 4,100 metric tons of mixed food.

At the field level, WFP has worked closely with the local authorities, UNHCR and other UN agencies, as well as NGO partners. WFP currently has agreements with two NGOs (MEHR & ORCD) for food distribution, and out-sourced monitors who are able to verify that distributions have been completed according to agreed protocols, and help identify any gaps and challenges. An agreement under which UNHCR takes over responsibility for secondary transport and distribution, as per corporate protocols, is due to be in place by November.

Host communities have played an important role in helping refugees meet their basic needs, mainly achieved through depletion of food stocks, selling and consumption of poultry products, and selling of crop seeds set aside for plantation. This had a negative impact on the food security and livelihoods of host communities. In order to address this, the local communities require support with agriculture inputs, certified wheat, maize, mung bean, vegetable seeds, small-scale poultry production, as well as training in livelihood protection. This will bolster their capacity to continue hosting refugees and help compensate for their depleted food and seed stocks.

**Education**
Safeguarding the right to education is an essential strategy to ensure the protection of children and adolescents and to fulfil its commitment towards the Education for All Framework. Children and adolescents should have access to child-friendly spaces, where recreational and learning activities, as well as psycho-social support, will be provided. Educational activities should be safe enough to provide effective protection to refugee children, adolescents, boys and girls. Prevention and response mechanisms to violence in school should also be established.

As per initial estimates, 58% of the refugee population are children. Initial educational services and psychosocial support are being are being provided for 2,800 refugee children in grades 1-6 in Khost in a partnership between DoE, NRC and UNICEF. This needs to be expanded to cover all children, including older children, and children need to be provided with Pakistani text books (while both the Pakistani refugees and the host population speak Pashto, the Pakistani children are taught in Urdu and English, and generally do not read Afghan Pashto). In addition, DoE and UNICEF are establishing 100 temporary learning places in Paktika. DoE is providing funding for additional teachers while UNICEF is providing teaching and learning materials as well as tents. UNICEF will provide capacity building support to DoE in Paktika as well as continuing to provide TLM supplies.

**Partnership and Coordination**
At the national level, issues with regard to the displacement are dealt with under the National Security Council (NSC). Under the leadership of the NSC, and chaired by the Deputy National Security Advisor, a task force monitors ongoing humanitarian activities in Khost and Paktika and provides support to the provincial committees. Members of this task force include representatives from key ministries and the Afghan Red Crescent Society. UNHCR, as the mandated UN agency for refugee response, is represented at the NSC Taskforce meetings. The purpose of the taskforce is to provide regular reports to the President and the National Security Advisor via the task force Chair.

On the basis of recommendations made by this task force, the GoIRA – in coordination with UNHCR – will lead the refugee response as part of the overall humanitarian response under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator. A Task Force has been set up in Kabul by UNHCR to facilitate the coordination of the response to the refugee and displaced families in Khost and Paktika.
The task force includes humanitarian partners directly involved in responding to the arrivals and with current experience from the region. The members include the following UN agencies: FAO, IOM, 15 |

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UNFPA, UNICEF, UNMAS, WFP and WHO, as well as national and international NGOs: CARE International, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR), Health Net International (HNI-TPO), International Medical Corps (IMC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Solidarites International, and The Liaison Office (TLO), as well as the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS).

A task force has also been established in Khost, co-chaired by the Governor of Khost and UNHCR.
The Governor of Khost has also set up eleven committees in districts affected by the refugee influx.
These committees are headed by various active heads of departments and are aimed at helping with registration, coordination of humanitarian organisations and the facilitation of distribution of humanitarian assistance. These 11 committees report to a central secretariat at the provincial level.
This secretariat is responsible for ensuring coherence, setting priorities and monitoring performance to mitigate corruption and enhance transparency and receives direct support from UNHCR. The secretariat reports directly to the Governor of Khost.

There are a limited number of humanitarian actors in Khost who were able to cover the most essential needs during the emergency phase. The number of actors is slowly increasing and GoIRA, in collaboration with UNHCR, is coordinating the assistance and repartition of coverage by sectors.
Assistance in areas of WASH, health, shelter and food security is being dealt with by the partners already on the ground, while the Cluster Coordinators are kept informed in Kabul, in order to utilize existing expertise and resources available in-country. Once the emergency phase moves into a more stable response, UNHCR will remain responsible for all protection issues, in coordination with relevant partners.

In Paktika, assistance and support will be coordinated by the Governor’s office – in cooperation with UNHCR – from Bermal district centre. Remote support to the provincial and district governing authorities will be provided. Regular coordination meetings, co-chaired by the Governor’s office and UNHCR, and national non-governmental organizations on the ground take place and have facilitated the coordination of distribution of assistance to refugee families residing mainly in Bermal and Urgun districts of Paktika. Coordination and liaison between the Governor’s office, UNHCR and national and international organizations also takes place at the Kabul level.

16 |

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**STRATEGIC PRIORITY THREE: TIMELY RESPONSE TO AFFECTED POPULATIONS**

**OUTCOME THREE: 3.3 TIMELY PROVISION OF LIFESAVING ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES, AFGHAN REFUGEE**
**RETURNEES AND UNDOCUMENTED VULNERABLE RETURNEES**

**Objective 1:** Provision of protection to Pakistani refugees

OUTPUTS Locations Indicators Target 80-100% of refugees 12,000 children 12,000 children 2,000 families 20,000 vulnerable families 5,000 families 100% Quality of registration and profiling improved Khost and Paktika (including Gulan camp) or maintained % of persons of concern registered on an individual basis Extent children of concern have non-discriminatory access to national child protection and social services school-age children have access to educational and psychosocial services

# of elderly persons of concern who
receive services for their specific needs Extent persons of concern are represented in leadership management structures Extent camp coordination mechanisms working effectively % of camp population who received M/ERW Security from Violence and Exploitation: protection of children strengthened, risk of SGBV is reduced and quality of response improved Khost and Paktika (including Gulan camp) Services for persons with specific Khost and Paktika (including Gulan camp) needs strengthened Community-based approach, including participatory assessments, in the emergency operation to ensure that the Khost and Paktika (including Gulan camp) follow-up phase supports communities to regain control of their lives as quickly as possible Camp management and coordination refined Gulan camp and improved Mine and ERW risk education Gulan camp

**Objective 2:** Essential services to Pakistani refugees, while pursuing durable solutions

Activities Locations Indicator Target 5,000 families 5,000 families 5,000 families 5,000 families 5,000 families 5,000 families 17 |

Uniform treatment and standards of protection and services for all refugees Gulan Camp Proportion of household with access to a functioning toilet Proportion of household possessing soap Proportion of household with emergency tents Preventative and life-saving health care services provided Supply of potable water increased or maintained Perimeter of the refugee camp secured

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Activities Locations Indicator Target Comprehensive needs assessment 2,500 tents/families 3,000 NFI kits/families 80% of refugees hosted Ensure Refugees have adequate protection from the weather in order to create the necessary privacy, psychological comfort, and emotional safety through provision of emergency shelter and NFI's Khost and Paktika To re-assess post-spring the emergency shelter situation on the ground in order to revise the approach and develop a transitional solutions according Procurement and distribution of emergency tents Population has sufficient basic and domestic items Proportion of households within intervention areas with access to safe drinking water Number of jerry cans distributed 1,142 jerry cans WASH services are provided to refugees Khost and Paktika and the host communities Reduce incidence of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in targeted Khost and Paktika areas

# of children vaccinated 136,221
vaccinated Proportion of households within intervention areas with soap available at hand washing area Proportion of households within intervention areas with access to a functioning toilet Case fatality rate during epidemics are maintained within internationally agreed standards Case fatality rate during epidemics are maintained within internationally agreed standards 80% of refugees hosted 80% of refugees hosted Measles CFR <5% Cholera <1% Measles CFR <5% Cholera <1% % of new unforeseen emergencies responded to with adequate supplies 100% To provide Food assistance to meet their immediate food needs Khost and Paktika To provide Food assistance to meet # of families supplied with adequate 30,000 most their immediate food needs Khost and Paktika and nutritional food vulnerable refugee families

**Objective 3:** Immediate humanitarian needs for refugee returnees and undocumented vulnerable migrant
returnees, are met

# of families supplied with adequate
and nutritional food Activities Locations Indicator Target 50,000 refugee returnees Voluntary repatriation: protection and basic assistance upon arrival, supporting education registration, lifesaving healthcare, and essential vaccinations for children under 5 years of age, as well as basic mine/ERW awareness, transit facilities and how to access legal aid Undocumented vulnerable returnees: provision of humanitarian assistance and return assistance upon arrival.

The most vulnerable returnees will be prioritized for the provision of shelter, access to basic services and reintegration assistance UNHCR and DoRR Encashment/ reception centres in Nangarhar, Paktya, Kandahar, Kabul and Herat provinces Herat, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Khost and Paktika Herat, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kabul, Nimroz, Gardez, Khost and Paktika Areas of highest return with most vulnerable

# of Afghan refugee returnees
receiving assistance upon arrival

# of returnees identified
as People with Specific Needs provided assistance

# of returnees
assisted at place of return

# of returnee families covered 5,000
under UNHCR Protection refugee returnee monitoring (through H/H returnees surveys and tracking interviews, follow up, physical visit of families in their places of return

# of PSNs assisted 45,000
Undocumented migrant returnees 1,360 returnees (refugee and undocumented 245,600 refugee returnees 18 |

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**Pelagea, 73, fled Donetsk in August 2014** after life under
shelling in her village became unbearable. She is one of 25,000 internally displaced persons who have sought safety in Mariupol. Life in a collective centre is not easy, with cramped quarters and communal bathrooms and kitchens, but “we help each other,” she says. The IDPs rely on the generous support of the local Ukrainian community, which donates food, clothing and blankets.

**2** UNHCR Mid-Year Trends 2015

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I

**INTRODUCTION**

Conflict, persecution, generalized violence and violations of human rights continued to cause forced displacement around the world during the first six months of 2015. Fighting across parts of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa have continued into the first half of the year, resulting in millions of individuals being forced to flee either within or outside their country.

y the end of 2014, 59.5 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. **[(1)]** An updated figure on global forced displacement was not available at the time of writing this
# **B**
report. As the number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide continued to grow in 2015, it is likely that this figure has far surpassed 60 million. **[(2)]** During the first half of 2015, UNHCR offices reported that at least five million individuals were newly displaced. Some 4.2 million were newly displaced within their own country, while 839,000 were displaced across international borders. This compares to 5.5 million newly displaced persons during the same period in 2014.
In addition, in 2015 Europe has experienced exceptionally large numbers of refugees and migrants arriving via the Mediterranean Sea, a majority of whom are from the Syrian Arab Republic and other conflict-affected countries and regions. As most of these arrivals have occurred since June 2015, their numbers are only partly captured in this report.

Population of concern to UNHCR By mid-2015, the total population of concern to UNHCR stood at an unprecedented 58.0 million persons. This includes persons who are forcibly displaced (notably refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs), those who have found a durable solution (returnees), as well stateless persons, most of whom have never been forcibly displaced.
This categorization is neither identical to nor synonymous with the global number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide (59.5 million by the end of 2014). It not only includes refugees and IDPs beyond UNHCR’s mandate but also excludes returnees and stateless persons.
A detailed breakdown of UNHCR’s population of concern by category and country is provided in Annex Table 1 on page 16.

This report analyses displacement trends during the first half of 2015, based on statistics collected by UNHCR, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Unless otherwise specified, figures are limited to events occurring up to 30 June 2015. The statistics included in this report should be considered provisional and subject to change, especially with regard to asylum trends. n

**(1)** Some 19.5 million persons were refugees: 14.4 million under UNHCR’s mandate and 5.1 million Palestinian refugees registered by UNRWA. The global figure
included 38.2 million IDPs and 1.8 million asylum-seekers. See 2014 Statistical Yearbook at http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02afce6.html.

**(2)** An updated figure on global forced displacement will be available in June 2016, on the occasion of the release of the 2015 Global Trends report.

UNHCR Mid-Year Trends 2015 **3**

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II

**REFUGEES**

Fig. 1 **Refugee population under UNHCR’s**
**mandate ** | 1990 - 2015*

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 (in millions) ‘90 ‘95 ‘00 ‘05 ‘10 ‘15

***** 1990-2014 (end-year); 2015 (mid-year)

The total number of refugees **[(3)]** has increased significantly and consistently over the past four years.
Starting from 10.4 million at the end of 2011, the number increased to 10.5 million in 2012, to 11.7 million in 2013, and finally to 14.4 million by the end of 2014. By mid-2015, it had reached an estimated 15.1 million, its highest level in 20 years.
Within three and a half years, then, the global refugee population grew by 4.7 million persons – some 45 per cent.
The main contributing factor to this trend has been the war in the Syrian Arab Republic. Excluding that country, the increase from the end of 2011 to mid-2015 would have been only half a million refugees (+5%). Clearly, the devastating effect of the Syrian conflict is being felt far beyond its neighbouring countries.
In addition to the Syrian crisis, the outbreak of armed conflicts or deterioration of ongoing ones in Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ukraine, among others, have contributed to prevailing trends. Meanwhile, the number of refugees able to return to their country of origin has trended downward, indicating that many refugees will continue to reside in exile for years to come.
As a result of observed trends, sub-Saharan Africa is host to the largest number of refugees (4.1 million), followed by Asia and Pacific (3.8 million), Europe (3.5 million), and the Middle East and North Africa (3.0 million). The Americas hosted 753,000 refugees at mid-2015 [ _see_ **Table 1** _below_ ].

By Origin The top 10 source countries of refugees recorded at mid-2015 remained unchanged compared to the beginning of the year. However, individual rankings within these top 10 did change during the reporting period.
The Syrian Arab Republic remained the largest source country of refugees, with a refugee population of 4.2 million by mid-2015. This figure has increased dramatically, rising from below 20,000 at the end of 2010. As such, starting in mid-2014, the Syrian Arab Republic replaced Afghanistan as the main source country of refugees worldwide, a rank Afghanistan had previously held for more than three decades.
The Syrian refugee population grew by more than 300,000 people during the reporting period. Surrounding countries continue to be impacted heavily by the crisis, with the number of registered Syrians in Turkey (1.8 million), **[(4)]** Lebanon (1.2 million), Jordan (628,800), Iraq (251,300), and Egypt (131,900) remaining high.
Outside the immediate region, Germany was hosting 66,000 Syrian refugees at mid-2015, up from 41,000 six months earlier.
The Afghan refugee population remained relatively stable at about 2.6 million. The process to renew Proof of Registration cards for Afghans in Pakistan ended in March 2015. This exercise led to a net increase in the number of Afghan refugees recorded of about 80,000 persons, including some 10,000 new-borns, though this was partly offset by the voluntary return of some 46,000 Afghan refu

**(3)** For the purposes of this report, unless otherwise stated, the term “refugees” refers to refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, and does not include Palestinian
refugees registered with UNRWA.

**(4)** At the time of writing this report (December 2015), the number of Syrians registered in Turkey was approaching 2.2 million.

**4** UNHCR Mid-Year Trends 2015

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Map 1

**Who is hosting the world’s refugees? ** | end-2010

**Germany**

**Syrian Arab Rep.**

**Jordan**

**Pakistan**

**Islamic Rep.**
**of Iran**

1,000,000 500,000 100,000

**Who is hosting the world’s refugees? ** | mid-2015

**Turkey**

**Lebanon**

**Pakistan**

**Islamic Rep.**
**of Iran**

**Ethiopia**

1,000,000 500,000 100,000 The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
A country is listed if it featured among the top-5 per year.

UNHCR Mid-Year Trends 2015 **5** Map 2

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A general reference to data, information, or statistics that contains a data noun but lacks enough specificity to identify the exact source