UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation

The following is a summary of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees strategic roadmap for voluntary repatriation of refugees from Myanmar living in Thailand. The roadmap planning began in 1995 and is still going through its final draftings. Repatriation efforts will take effect by three modes of transportation; spontaneous, facilitated, and promoted.

Spontaneous returns are already taking place and began as early as 2012. Organized by refugees themselves, the UNHCR has been offered no knowledge of and therefore gives no support during the movement. In contrast, facilitated transportation involves the UNHCR offering assistance to Persons with Specific needs (PSNs), including unaccompanied minors, single-headed households , older persons without family support , chronically ill persons, and religious minority subgroups. Promoted transportation involves extensive UNHCR support, Including transportation and entitlement packages of reintegration assistance.

During the 2015-2017 course, a community-based approach will be applied with due regard to the immediate needs of all vulnerable individuals within the community by strengthening existing community support mechanisms and working with local non-government organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and civil society organization (CSO) partners.

Myanmar refugees in Thailand who choose to return to their township should be able to do so in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner. Reintegration should be carried out in a sustainable manner with regard to the needs of the reviving communities and vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDP).

Facilitation of voluntary return will only be initiated if the following conditions are met:

1. Agreement of Myanmar authorities to receive returnees

2. A procedure for verifying that an individual or group return arrangement meets the following key conditions : A. Verification of voluntary nature of return through individual interviews

B. Assessment in location of intended returns by UNHCR and confirmation

that there are no significant ongoing protection risks in that location.

C. Full UNHCR access to the return location for follow up support

D. No evidence that return is part of an exploitative arrangement For facilitation of group returns:

A. Surveying and Mapping and demarcation of land mines must be underway

B. Site location is intended to host permanent returns

C. Plans have been developed in consultation with refugees and local

communities in the return areas

D. Myanmar authorities, ethnic armed groups present in the area, and local

communities agree with the project

E. Access to land and livelihood opportunities are in place to ensure

sustainable return

F. Refugees accorded security of tenure if land is allocated The UNHCR has created a 5 Pillar roadmap should such conditions be met.

Pillar 1: Preparedness

Activated In 2012, extensive consultations with refugee leaders about durable solutions have been held. UNHCR Myanmar staff will continue to meet with camps to provide information about South-East Myanmar and answer any questions refugees may have. Mine risk education will continue as well. Water sanitation and hygiene, livelihoods, sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response, and community mobilization will continue with an aim to enhance protection and absorption capacity.

Priorities in early 2015:

1. Issuance of smart cards in the nine temporary shelters in Thailand

2. Development of advocacy positions and technical advice on addressing refugee access to land

3. Development of a strategy to address returnee shelters

Pillar 2: Support Provided to Spontaneous Returnees

Since January 2012, UNHCR Myanmar has identified 82 locations in which IDP and/or refugee returns have taken place. These “verified return villages” are prioritized for community- based support and non-food items distribution as a means of supporting refugee choices and the community as a whole.

In 2015, two new projects were launched targeting spontaneous return locations in which approaches to a community driven livelihood support and community-based protection involving local partners were tested in communities with IDP returnees. There are plans to roll these out on a larger scale

Pillar 3: Facilitation of Returns, Including Calibrated Engagement with Group Return Projects

The UNHCR will engage in consultations with refugees, the receiving community, Mysnmar authorities, and ethic armed groups to ensure the conditions (see above) have been met. The UNHCR returnee monitoring system, which has been in place since June 2013, with a focus on community level discussions, will be adapted to support UNHCR’s engagement.

Pillar 4: Promotion of Voluntary Repatriation and Initial Reinstallation Support

Envisioned to be initiated in early 2016 and phased out in 2017, pillar 4 will endure medical records at camps are collected and reviewed prior to departure. There will be an issuance of voluntary repatriation forms and the electronic updating of smart cards. Transportation for refugees will be self-arranged with costs covered through cash grants in Thailand .

Five to seven border crossing and reception points will be utilized during the promotion phase where returnees will activate their entitlement to assistance. Ten “one stop” centers will be establish to offer advice and information, distribute reintegration cash grant of 100$ US dollars per person (adult and child) and to provide non-food item packages and food assistance.

Pillar 5: Reintegration and Measured Disengagement

The UNHCR hopes for enduring interconnectedness among humanitarian, recovery, development and peace-building initiatives. In Thailand, UNHCR engagement will support camp decommissioning and negotiation of durable solutions for the residual refugee population who may be unwilling or unable to return. Additionally, environmental rehabilitation will be ensured for local populations in former camp areas.

Cessation will only be considered when a range of solutions has been made available and the vast majority of refugees have availed themselves of these.

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