According to the last official statistics received from the Government in October 2011, the total number of Afghan refugees registered with Iran authorities, stood at 840,158 Afghan Amayesh card-holders. However, in June 2014, the Government verbally announced that the number of Afghan refugees stood at 950,000. All Amayesh card-holders enjoy refugee status and receive access to legal and other socio-economic rights in the country. The Government renews Amayesh cards on an annual basis, in an exercise referred to as Amayesh IX. This annual renewal is costly; however a number of vulnerable refugees are exempt from these charges and arrangements for other refugees are made to pay in instalments.
Durable solutions: In 2014, durable solutions are planned for 9,000 Afghans who will be assisted to return home voluntarily. In addition, the operation will continue resettling Afghan refugees to third countries.
Health: Over 80 per cent of refugees benefited from access to primary health care services and some 209,200 vulnerable refugees were enrolled in the health insurance scheme. Moreover Asia Insurance Company reimbursed 90 per cent of medical costs for approximately 50,400 refugees.
Education: The Ministry of Education (MoE) continues to provide access to education for over 329,000 Afghan students. UNHCR’s partnership with the (MoE) focuses also on: (1) construction of schools, (2) provision of literacy and numeracy courses to over-aged and out-of-school women, children and men, and (3) the distribution of uniforms and stationary kits to identified vulnerable refugees. In addition, UNHCR partners with Kowsar, an NGO that provides literacy courses to over-aged women refugees in Mashad city.
Livelihood opportunities: In 2014, UNHCR provided (1) market-driven vocational training to over 1,300 Afghan refugees, and (2) technical and certified skills training to around 1,970 refugees in 13 provinces. In joint collaboration with UNIDO, UNHCR initiated a multi-year project on value chain development. In addition, a joint project with The Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development Organization (NICCO) helped facilitate cross-border livelihood. Moreover a pilot revolving fund project sought to create sustainable employment for targeted refugees in Isfahan. Finally, UNHCR, in partnership with the World Relief Foundation (WRF), supported the establishment of small home-based businesses for over 160 vulnerable refugee women.
Natural resources: Thanks to the Forests, Rangelands & Watershed Management Organization (FRWO) 2,000 Afghan refugees benefited from a project aimed at enhancing sustainable use of natural resources and employment generation. In addition, FRWO continued to implement community based micro-credit funds made available to around 5,000 refugees.
The Solution Strategy for Afghan refugees (SSAR): In 2014, the SSAR National Steering Committee and the Secretariat continued to provide strategic direction on implementation to facilitate the overall coordination process. For 2014, a plan was revised and new agencies were invited to participate; around 30 proposals were endorsed.