Tajikistan

UNHCR Representation in Tajikistan
Basic Facts

Offices: UNHCR Representation in Tajikistan (location-Dushanbe), since January 1993.

Programs in: Dushanbe and Khujand cities

Refugees and asylum-seekers: As of June 2011 Government data

Refugees: 3,323 persons (assisted by UNHCR - 2,000)

Asylum seekers: 2,037 persons (assisted by UNHCR - 1,500)

Voluntary repatriation: Since 1993 to July 2010 UNHCR assisted and facilitated the return of 10,149 refugees to their countries of origin, mainly to Afghanistan, with small number of Iranian and Iraqi refugees. Apart from that, since 2004 and up to July 2010, UNHCR Tajikistan assisted UNHCR Kyrgyzstan with transit voluntary repatriation movements to Afghanistan with total 88 refugees (34 cases).

Local integration: Local integration is theoretically considered as an option for the long staying refugees, however no special program for naturalization for long staying refugees has been developed by the government. All cases have to apply individually. In 2009, UNHCR revised it strategy on local integration. UNHCR analyzed the main categories of persons eligible for citizenship and has identified and submitted 8 strong cases that could become pilot cases for naturalization. With the change of the government partner in April 2009, most of the UNHCR efforts have been placed into developing the asylum procedures at the MS. It should be noted however, that UNHCR sees as a positive sign that the new department responsible for refugees also includes citizenship issues. It is hoped that linkage of refugees and citizenship issues in one dept will help in addressing local integration, reduce bureaucratic delays and facilitate the local integration. It is to be seen with the initial 8 cases that were submitted whether this assumption proves accurate.

Resettlement: Starting from 1993 to April 2010 UNHCR Tajikistan used resettlement as a protection tool for 1,828 refugees. Presently, the Office is in discussion of the durable solution strategy, where resettlement should be also considered as a durable solution option. Given the reality that local integration would not be an option in the near future for cases that have arrived after the end of the two resettlement programs in 2006 and repatriation is often not an option, resettlement should be considered.

Stateless persons: According to the last 2000 census, there are 2,745 stateless persons.

2011 budget: 1,889,893 US Dollars

2012 budget: 1,831,187 US Dollars

Projects and partners:
-Capacity building of government institutions, voluntary repatriation and resettlement - UNHCR
-Social, medical and education assistance to refugees and asylum seekers - Refugee Children and Vulnerable Citizens (RCVC) and Consortium Initiatives (CI)
-Legal counselling and court representation - Society and Law (S&L)
-DAFI scholarships - Refugee Children and Vulnerable Citizens (RCVC)

For more detailed information please download External Fact Sheet here.

February 2012