UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

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59. Customs formalities: Customs formalities
are generally waived or simplified in repatriation
operations but this should be checked
well in advance. Special arrangements may be
needed where the refugees wish to repatriate
with personal possessions such as vehicles or
livestock.
60. Health formalities: Health requirements
(vaccination certificates, etc.) should not exceed
those required for normal travelers. Extra vaccinations,
e.g. cholera, typhoid, are sometimes
requested on the grounds that without them
the refugees would pose special health hazards.
Where vaccinations are required, WHO’s
advice should be sought and if necessary they
can be conveniently recorded on the registration
form if the refugees are not already in possession
of individual vaccination cards.
On Arrival in Country of Origin
61. The principle of return in safety and dignity
does not cease to apply once the return
movement is completed, but applies and
should be monitored until such time as the
situation in the country of origin can be
considered stable, national protection is again
available and the returnees are reintegrated
into their community.
Registration on arrival
62. In certain situations, in particular in an
emergency repatriation, it may be the case
that no repatriation registration was undertaken
in the country of asylum. In this case a
system should be set up to register the returnee
population to facilitate UNHCR access
to all returnees in the different areas of return.
In some circumstances, a returnee card
may be appropriate.
Monitoring and UNHCR presence
63. A UNHCR presence is vital for returnee
monitoring. Presence by other appropriate organizations,
and liaison with them, is also important.
The purpose of monitoring is to assess
whether national protection has been
effectively restored and extended to all returnees.
The basic principle is non-discrimination
– that returnees are treated the same as
the resident population and are not targeted
or discriminated against in any way. Monitoring
should cover general conditions (human
rights violations, and security, food security,
access to basic facilities and property, freedom
of movement, honouring of any guarantees),
as well as random individual monitoring.
Reception by resident population
64. Where the return is spontaneous there
may be less time to make preparations in the
country of origin. Steps should be taken as soon
as possible to prepare the resident local population
for the arrival of the returnees to promote
acceptance and integration if necessary.
Material Assistance
65. Material assistance and protection are interlinked
and should be usually reinforcing.
The provision of material assistance to returnees
enhances the possibilities to monitor
this population and is important in making
return a lasting solution. Where assistance is
given without discrimination on a community
basis it can also help with acceptance of the
returnees and integration. The question of the
nature and degree of assistance programmes
in the country of origin, as well as the length
of time UNHCR should remain involved in the
country of origin, are covered in more detail
in the references listed below.
Access to land and property
66. Property is a key resource for returning
refugees – either in terms of access to accommodation
and return to one’s home, or as a
means of livelihood. Resolving this can be very
complex, but must be addressed if the repatriation
is to be successful and durable. UNHCR
can play a role through negotiating with the
authorities to protect the legitimate rights of
returnees.
Landmines
(Please refer to chapter 23 on staff safety for
safety advice on mines.)
67. The presence of landmines on main
routes of return and in returnee settlement
areas poses tremendous danger for repatriating
refugees and is therefore a major protection
concern to UNHCR.
The need for return “in safety and dignity”
means that UNHCR cannot promote the voluntary
repatriation of refugees in patently
dangerous situations with the risk of injury
or death.
68. Within the UN system, issues relating to
mine clearance are primarily the responsibility
of the department of Peace Keeping Operations
(DPKO). Where necessary UNHCR may
help fund minefield surveys and demarcation,
but involvement in actual mine clearance is