Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

governments. The desire of the neighboringcountries to engineer large scale return is achallenge to the principle of voluntary repatriation.Experience indicates that such pressureswill not produce sustainable or humane outcomes.This is particularly the case for extremelyvulnerable individuals: unaccompaniedwomen, unaccompanied minors, womenat risk, the elderly, the very poor, those in needof medical care and drug addicted individuals.Economic and social reintegration faces manyconstrains and challenges. Since 2005 repatriationof refugees has slowed down considerably.This is attributable to a number of factors: (i)the deterioration in the security situation; (ii)limited economic opportunities, including employment,upon arrival; (iii) access to housing;(iv) limited access to basic health and educationfacilities; and (v) the length of time in exile.Lower return figures have led to an increase inthe pressures from the neighboring countries tostem the continuing trend of out-migrationfrom Afghanistan. The most visible indicationhas been the deportation of over 350,000 unregisteredAfghans from Iran.It is very probable that high levels of mass andvoluntary repatriation are over. The refugees’long stay in exile, poverty, and dissuasive conditionsin many parts of Afghanistan are likelyto prove difficult obstacles to overcome in future.Internal displacement remains a significantproblem facing the same constrains and challengesas do refugees: (i) ongoing conflict; (ii)natural disasters (drought, floods); and (iii) lackof livelihoods. As a consequence, there are approximately160,000 internally displaced persons,mostly in southern Afghanistan. There isalso evidence of secondary migration of returneesfrom places of origin to cities and back tothe neighboring countries.Further, many of those that return face significanthardships and difficulties re integratinginto life in Afghanistan. Drug abuse and itssocio-economic repercussions on families andcommunities are aggravated by the large numbersof refugees returning. These groups haveoften been exposed to drugs during their stayabroad. The difficulties of economic and socialreintegration also place them at particular riskof drug abuse on their return. Ensuring thatthey do not contribute to drug production orbecome drug uses requires viable and visibleemployment prospects.The sector strategy provides policies for voluntary,planned and sustainable return of therefugees and IDPs that will support stability ofAfghanistan, its economic development andpoverty reduction. The strategic vision of thesector strategy is to provide safe, voluntary,gradual and sustainable reintegration possibilitiesfor all Afghan refugees, returnees and IDPschoosing to return. This vision supports therights of all Afghans to return to their homes,reposes property and enjoy all constitutionaland human rights. Greater attention to protectionof the vulnerable groups among refugeesand IDPs, including children and women is animportant part of this vision.The main strategic objective of the sector is totransition out of a purely refugee and humanitarianframework for managing populationmovements to a more comprehensive set ofpolicy arrangements that, will advance durablesolutions for the remaining 3 million Afghansin the neighboring countries, for returnees, andfor Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) includingthe most vulnerable populations, andwhich will not rely solely on voluntary returns.Overall strategic goals and objectives have beendivided in three categories:The Government’s expected outcomes from thesector strategy are to:• support the safe, voluntary, an gradual returnof refugees from Pakistan, Iran andelsewhere;• prepare and implement more visible andeffective, sustainable reintegration programsand interventions;• improve social protection and disaster preparedness;• strengthen the management of cross bordermovements and economic migration;• prepare plans to improve the response tointernal displacement crisis; and• give greater attention to the protection ofthe vulnerable groups among refugees andIDPs, including children and women.• improve the facilitation for gradual returnof all Afghans who wish to return voluntarilyfrom Pakistan, Iran and other host130Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS)