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Au t umn&wi n t e r
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DEFENDERS
47
Reduction of Social Damages
One of the areas which leaves a lot of
repercussions for both Afghans and the Iranian
society is the drugs issue and the high volume
of these substances productions inAfghanistan.
In view of the long stretch of Iran’s border
with Afghanistan, Afghan nationals access and
commuting to Iran has also risen, and the entry
of drugs into Iran has put a heavy cost for the
nation, government and NGOs. Lack of jobs in
Afghanistan, high livelihood from drugs and
also Afghans’ easy access to different parts of
Iran have expanded the basis for committing
drugs offences, and inflicted a lot of damages
on the Iranian society. This issue also has
caused a rise in the number of illegal Afghans
in Iran. According to unofficial figures as well
as the almost one million registered refugees in
Ira there are more than 2 millionAfghans living
in Iran illegally, which has caused the spread
of social damages and problems for the Iranian
society.
The smuggling of drugs from Afghanistan
into Iran has caused a rise in addictionwithin the
Iranian society and also the Afghan community
in Iran, which necessitates prevention and
treatment. Three active NGOs called Rebirth,
Recovering Addicts Support Society, Sun
House and charitable and triangular clinics in
various provinces have taken steps in providing
medical services to refugees affected by drugs.
To this aim some of these organizations have
signed agreements with the UNHCR. Raha
Counseling Centre of the ODVV also in
line with the strengthening of the family and
prevention of addiction provides counseling to
vulnerable refugees threatened by addiction.
Livelihood
In view of security problems, lack of
acceptance of the returnees by the Afghan
government on a huge scale and as a result the
drop in the number of voluntary repatriations
of Afghans back to their country , practical
solutions have been devised for Afghan
refugees with the aim of voluntary repatriations,
sustainable reintegration and assistance to host
countries. In this regard the key role of NGOs in
cooperationwithUNagencies such as theWorld
Food Programme and the UNHCR have been
stressed. Also in view of the fact that livelihood
programmes based on the increasing of refugees
self sufficiency particularly in conditions where
their refugee status is a lengthy one, Iranian
NGOs alongside international organizations
and relevant agencies play key roles.
In this regard, Iranian NGOs and charities
in two levels of empowerment of refugees
(holding technical and professional courses) and
food and non-food aid, have always put support
and to refugees in their working agendas. The
IranianPromotionofLivingQualityAssociation
(ILIA), the Protection of Women and Children
Refugees Association (HAMI), Child
Foundation, Protection of Child Labourers and
StreetChildrenAssociation,OmidMehrCharity
Foundation, Mehr Koodakan Support House
Institute, International World Aid Foundation
and dozens of other NGOs and charities in this
regard have notably cooperated in the reduction
of refugees’livelihood problems, and on various
occasions provided various food and non-food
aid to vulnerable refugees. Furthermore Iranian
technical and professional organizations
alongside the Iranian government and UNHCR
have considered various professional and
technical courses for refugees.
Conclusion
The said points are only the tip of the iceberg
of the overall supports that have been provided
by a number of Iranian NGOs to refugees living
in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is while
international assistance in the existing scales
compared to the number of refugees in Iran has
been very little and themain burden of problems
and repercussions of the presence of refugees in
Iran is on the shoulders of the people of Iran.
Furthermore eternal sanctions have doubled
NGOs problems and limitations and as a result
the refugees have also been affected by these
pressures.
On the other hand, in view of the high
number of refugees in Iran, naturally a number
of profiteers turn to criminal activities and
endanger the mental and social safety of
the citizens and refugees, and this problem
requires a serious internal will, information
dissemination of the laws and regulations of
the host country and the need to respect them
and also international assistance to reduce these
types of threats.
Let us hope with the further participation
of the international community, the support
for local and civil societies and also refugees
living in Iran expand and with reconstruction
and establishment of security across the
neighbouring country, we witness a repatriation
full of dignity and respect for the refugees.
In view of security problems,
lack of acceptance of the
returnees by the Afghan
government on a huge scale
and as a result the drop in
the number of voluntary
repatriations of Afghans
back to their country ,
practical solutions have been
devised for Afghan refugees
with the aim of voluntary
repatriations, sustainable
reintegration and assistance
to host countries