New technology helps track refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan has begun using state-of-the-art technology to prevent Afghan refugees from abusing the voluntary repatriation programme. "We detected two people who returned a second time for assistance on the first day the equipment was used," spokesman for UNHCR Pakistan, Jack Redden, told IRIN on Wednesday from Peshawar, the provincial capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The equipment has been installed at the Takhta Baig Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) in NWFP, the only VRC now operating in the country, due to a drop in returnees as winter approaches. The device identifies people through the iris in their eyes on photographs taken for repatriation forms. It converts a photographic image of the iris into a digital code and only requires a second to check whether the person has already received assistance. The digital code is stored without any personal information, such as the identity of the person, to ensure it cannot be used for any purpose other than detecting those seeking UNHCR travel assistance for a second time. All refugees over the age of 16 at the VRC are being tested with the new machinery, which is safe and is regarded as an extremely effective method of identification. It is the first time the device is being used by the refugee agency in the field. Redden said there were many methods adopted by refugees trying to get into the repatriation system again. "There have been people who have been recognised from photos and have reappeared wearing a hat or have shaved their beard off". The device has already proved to be a success. More than 2,000 Afghans passed through the VRC on Monday and Tuesday, with 13 rejected by the iris check. In total, 1.5 million Afghans have returned home from Pakistan this year of which more than 72,000 families were rejected using previous methods of checking. "The overwhelming majority of those who have received travel assistance were refugees intent on returning to Afghanistan. But there were some who tried to take advantage of the system, seeking funds more than once that are needed to help those genuinely going back to their homeland," said Hasim Utkan, head of UNHCR, Pakistan. Commenting on why this method had only just been implemented, Redden said:" The reason why it has taken so long is that it has taken time to come through. The idea was processed some time ago." The equipment will be tested for a month before a decision is made on whether to continue using