After Return

6. Networks and support
Support for forced returnees from IOM
Forced returnees from the UK to Afghanistan are eligible for a package of support from IOM. This
package is not the same as the support available for returnees who have participated in the Assisted
Voluntary Return (or comparable) scheme.
Forced returnees are met at the airport by a representative of IOM, and offered small amounts of cash
for onward travel to other provinces should they wish to leave Kabul immediately. Accommodation
in a hostel known as ‘Jangalak’ is available for up to two weeks, and ‘in-kind’ reintegration assistance
is available up to the value of £750 to support those setting up their own business, and up to £900 to
cover the cost of training or education. 3 All support must be claimed within three months of return to
Afghanistan. 4
None of the young returnees monitored for this report had stayed in the Jangalak accommodation
centre. Thirteen young people reported that they were not aware that they had this option, and 11
had heard of the centre, but felt that staying there would identify them as a returnee and expose
them to ongoing discrimination and stigma. One young person had visited the centre, but decided he
would instead try to stay with the friend of a friend.
The majority of young people attempting to access the monetary reintegration support struggled to
do so. Whilst all young returnees who wanted immediate cash for onward travel to another province
were given it in the airport, less than half (four of 10) of those who tried to access the more substantial
business/education support were able to do so.
The young returnees monitored for this research provided various explanations for their struggles to
obtain the support. Two young people reported that they were told they would only be eligible for
the business support if they could find a business partner and bring documents demonstrating the
viability of the business - this was not possible for them and so they received no support. For three other
young people, the administrative processes around accessing the support had proved impossible
to navigate. They told of repeated appointments over several months which failed to result in the
granting of support. A final young person was told, on several visits, that he was not on the relevant
list, and so was not entitled to support. Other young people (not included in the 10 who attempted to
access support) had not realised that the support existed until the three month deadline had passed,
or had travelled immediately to another province and not been able to return to Kabul in time for an
appointment. Others had simply lost the information leaflet and so had not known what number to
call or where to go.
On two occasions, young people had been so desperate for the financial support that they had
fabricated evidence of business expenses in order to obtain it. One explained:
“About 8-9 months ago I took my papers to IOM but they said you have to start a shop or a business
or something and then we can help you. Someone said if I paid money to a man he would make a
paper to take to IOM to prove I was doing a business - but for that I had to give him 80% of the IOM
money. But they said the paper he gave me wasn’t correct, and about 5-6 times I went and finally
they gave it to me – about £500, and I had to give 80% to the man.” (R15, ILD)
Conclusions
Familial and social networks are a critical part of Afghanistan’s social fabric. Whilst some young returnees
have been shown significant generosity and hospitality by friends and family, for the majority, these networks
have disappeared, weakened or become fractured. A fear of stigma or discrimination has, in many cases,
created a barrier to building open and honest friendships, leaving young people internally isolated and
disconnected. Institutional support, particularly from IOM, has been helpful to a minority of young people,
but the majority have faced substantial barriers to accessing help and remained either without support or
dependent on unsustainable and ad-hoc assistance from individuals in the UK.
After Return 25