IOM Oslo Voluntary Assisted Return Programme VARP

1
IOM Oslo Voluntary Assisted Return Programme
(VARP)

• International Organization for Migration

2
OBJECTIVE
The VARP project provides a mechanism for the
voluntary and dignified return of migrants in
irregular situation from Norway to their
countries of origin.
3
JUSTIFICATION

• Voluntary return is
• HUMANE
• DIGNIFIED
• CIVILIAN

4
PARTNERS

• IMPLEMENTED by IOM
• in close coordination with
• Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and
  National Police Immigration Service (PU)

5
OTHER COLLABORATING NGOs

• Norwegian Refugee Council
• Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers

6
TARGET GROUPS

• Irregular migrants
• Rejected asylum seekers
• Asylum seekers with pending asylum claim

7
UDI statistics on asylum applications 2007
8
Services to voluntary returnees include
9
Information to the target group
10
Counselling
11
Airport assistance at departure, transit and
arrival
12
Transportation (domestic international)
13
Assistance in getting travel documents
14
VARP Application processing routines

• ? Approval of applicants by UDI/Police
• ? Status report to applicant/mottak on
  application
• ? Acquisition of travel documents, if necessary
• ? Travel Booking travel info to the applicant
• ? Transfer to Torshov mottak in Oslo
• ? Transportation to the airport and departure
• ? Notification to Norwegian authorities on
  departure

15
Voluntary / Forced return

• IOM
• Counseling
• Travel organized until home town
• Local authorities not informed
• Travel as a regular passenger
• No debt to the Norwegian government
• Better possibilities for legal reentry to Norway
  (and other Schengen countries) e.g. for work
  purposes or family reunion
• Travel notice is given for preparation before
  departure

• POLICE
• No counseling
• Travel organized until main airport
• Airline (local authorities) aware of forced
  return
• Police escort on travel
• Debt to the Norwegian government
• Limited possibilities for legal reentry to Norway
  (and other Schengen countries)
• Departure without notice

16
Forced return
17
Forced return
18
Voluntary return with IOM
19
Voluntary return with IOM
20
RESULTS

• Since May 2002 until 31 August 2008
• 5255 had returned home with IOM
• 10083 had applied for IOM
• 1874 persons had acquired a travel document with
  the assistance of IOM from their Embassies

21
Annual breakdown on applications and departures
22
Distribution of Applicants by CitizenshipIOM has
received applications from 118 nationalities
23

• A SUSTAINABLE HOMECOMING TO AFGHANISTAN
  INFORMATION TO, RETURN AND REINTEGRATION OF
  AFGHAN NATIONALS
• (IRRANA)Project start 26th of April 2006

24
IRRANA
25
IRRANA

• to facilitate voluntary return of Afghani
  nationals
• from Norway providing the returnees with
• sustainable reintegration opportunities
• From the project start and until August, 25 2008
• a total of 133 applications from Afghan nationals
  
• 74 persons returned to Afghanistan and received
  the reintegration services
• 2 repatriation returnees

26
IRRANAsuccess story from Norway
27
IRRANAsuccess story from Norway

• MOHAMMAD DAMIM (27)
• returned to Afghanistan under IRRANA programme
  August 2006
• opened Institute of Boxing Jawanan Chardehi
  (Chardehi Youngsters)
• Received
• cash grant of 15,000 Norwegian Kroner
  (2250 USD)
• 10,000 Norwegian Kroner (1500 USD) for
  purchasing necessary
• equipment and toolkits for the center
• His training center for boxing is registered with
  Afghanistans National
• Olympic
• currently, more than 100 trainees get boxing
  training in two shifts

28
Information, Return and Reintegrationof Iraqi
Nationals to Iraq(IRRINI)
29
IRRINI
30
IRRINI

• Facilitate the voluntary return and sustainable
  reintegration of
• Iraqi nationals residing in Norway
• reinforcing local capacities as contributions to
  the local economy

31
IRRINI

• Project start March, 1st 2008
• Until August, 31st
• Applications received 113
• Returns 57
• Repatriation cases 13

32
IRRINI reintegration assistance

• allowance (equivalent of 10000 NOK) paid on
  arrival in Iraq by IOM Iraq to returnees
• Repatriants receive an equivalent of 15000 NOK
• Individually tailored reintegration plans
• - Financial support towards the development of
  small business start-up projects (proposed
  maximum amount of 25,000.00 NOK in services)
• - Assistance in skills development through
  educational or on-the job training
• Job placement through referrals
• Consistent follow-up on regular basis for at
  least 6 months