Returnee centres in Kabul open

In an effort to assist Afghan returnees reintegrating into their home community, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), using the UN agency Habitat’s previously established network system there, has opened community forums in 13 districts of Kabul, the IOM announced on Tuesday. IOM acting regional representative in Islamabad Richard Danziger told IRIN that the “aim of this programme is to reintegrate returnees into the community and to give them access and resources that would benefit both the returnee and the overall community.” As part of the programme, 15 female and 15 male Afghan return referral counsellors and one coordinator had been trained by IOM in counselling, surveying and data-collection. The counsellors would work to match the needs and skills of Afghan returnees with available opportunities and resources in Kabul. Using a computerised database, skilled returnees could apply for vacancies with international and local assistance partners. According to IOM project figures, as of 25 November, 538 families had been visited and a total of 1,237 questionnaires (721 male-516 female) had been completed by the 15 teams of return referral counsellors. Asked how significant the project was, Danziger said: “This is the first project of its type in Afghanistan and we hope to set up further projects of this type in the future.”