Afghanistan: Iris-testing proves successful
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Since we introduced state-of-the-art iris recognition tests for refugees seeking assistance to return to Afghanistan a year ago, we have so far seen more than 200,000 Afghans undergo what has proven to be a highly successful means to verify the identities of returnees. The use of the biometric data - unique to each eye - allows us to detect anyone who has previously been "enrolled" in the data base and is trying to seek assistance for a second time, which is not allowed. So far, the system has detected approximately 1,000 people who have tried to claim assistance for a second time. This is in addition to more than 70,000 families that were rejected last year under other screening methods, including more than 20,000 who were trying to recirculate through the system a second time.
Since a successful test project last October in Peshawar, some 202,000 refugees seeking UNHCR assistance under the voluntary repatriation programme have been checked. In July this year we have lowered the age of those tested to six years to ensure children are not being forced to make repeated trips with various adults - an abuse of the assistance programme and a danger to the children. Only those with physical impediments or who are too young to use the equipment are exempt.
This is the first field-use of such non-intrusive technology anywhere in the world. It has performed flawlessly despite the harsh conditions in the heat and dust of Pakistan's border territories with Afghanistan. In addition to fixed locations, UNHCR is operating the equipment with mobile units to ease the return of refugees from remote areas. The actual enrolment process takes only a few seconds from when the returnee sits in front of the camera. Images of the iris, which appear on an adjoining computer screen, are transmitted to the computer server. The system converts the image into a digital code, which is then checked against the entire data base from all of our iris centres to see if there is a duplicate. If the code has not appeared before, the refugee is registered and given clearance to receive an assistance package on arrival in Afghanistan. Returnees are entitled to a travel grant that varies with the distance, several months of WFP food aid and some non-food items like shelter material. If the test reveals that the refugee has been enrolled before - and only about half of one percent are found to be "recyclers" - the person is refused assistance.
No information is recorded that can identify the individual tested - the code describing the iris has no link to the name, age, destination or anything else about the refugee. Since we began facilitating the return of Afghan refugees in early 2002, more than 2.4 million refugees have gone back, including more than 320,000 returnees from Pakistan so far this year.
Meanwhile, UNHCR this week organized the first convoy of internally displaced people returning from southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province back to their homes in the north. Thirty-six families (189 people) left Kandahar on Monday in 11 vehicles and yesterday reached their villages of origin in Morghab and Gormash areas in Badghis province, in north-western Afghanistan. The returning families will receive agricultural kits (seeds, shovel, sickle, watering can), plastic sheets, tents, lanterns, soap, hygiene cloths, family kits from UNICEF (spoons, bucket, cups, soap, bowl and plates) and WFP wheat flour.
Many of these families fled Badghis nearly two years ago and were staying in Zhare Dasht settlement or makeshift camps in Kandahar. They are all Pashtuns who had been harassed out of their homes following the fall of the Taliban or were caught in factional fighting.
Many more families have expressed their wish to go home this year, but UNHCR could not facilitate their return while fighting was ongoing in Badghis province earlier this year. With tension between factions subsiding in that region and an easing of the tension and drought conditions, UNHCR has begun helping since summer many displaced people to return to Badghis province, mainly from camps to the west in Herat.
UNHCR hopes to continue the voluntary return movements from the south to the north, but there are still specific areas in the north that we cannot recommend due to ongoing conflict between factions or human rights abuses.
There is an estimated 220,000 internally displaced people in Afghanistan, including some 140,000 in the southern provinces.
Related news and stories
Women-run businesses in Afghanistan dealt a blow by deepening restrictions
UNHCR launches new appeal for Afghan refugees and hosts, urging partners to stay the course
I had to flee for my education, but refused to leave other Afghan girls to their fate
Former refugee, now volunteer teacher, helps other Afghan girls get an education
Families struggle for survival during Afghanistan's coldest winter in a decade
Afghan women affected by Taliban bans on work and study fear for their futures
Your search for « biometric » matched 879 results. Displaying page 5 of 98 pages.
-
Afghanistan: New technology solution brings big savings
8 Aug 2003 ... We opted to use this biometric recognition system in order to prevent identification fraud. The system was successfully tested late last year in Peshawar, in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. ...... -
Democratic Republic of Congo Fact Sheet
31 Aug 2018 ... Refugees from December 2014 to January 2015. Biometric registration of Rwandan refugees is ongoing. ... Funded 18 % 35.3 M Required 82 % 165.7 M Biometric registration of CAR refugees near Gbadolite, ...... -
ATCR/WGR Newsletter No 8
Jul 2012 ... ... in Minnesota ......26 US–UNHCR Biometrics Pilot Project – Kenya......These missions are the first under our new arrangements for collecting visa biometrics, and for ...... -
Afghanistan: Iris-testing proves successful
10 Oct 2003 ... The use of the biometric data - unique to each eye - allows us to detect anyone who has previously been "enrolled" in the data base and is trying to seek assistance for a second time, which is not ...... -
Strategic Presentation Summary 47th Meeting of the Standing Committee: Global Programmes and Partnerships
24 Feb 2010 ... held its first global workshop on the use of biometrics in operations. The aim of the workshop was to conclude a global policy on the use of biometrics and to explore the potential for wider use of ...... -
Central African Republic Situation Update
22 Dec 2015 ... of voter registration for refugees; biometric registration Chad: Facilitation of voter ... and documentation of new CAR refugees; biometric registration exercise Funded 20% Gap 80% New ...... -
Joint Bangladesh/UNHCR verification of Rohingya refugees gets underway
6 Jul 2018 ... Biometric data, including iris scans and fingerprints as well as photographs, are used in the ... UNHCR is providing laptops, servers, wireless routers, biometric hardware and printing equipment, ...... -
Summary of the CaLP/UNHCR Review of the Common Cash Facility in Jordan
Aug 2017 ... The CCF draws on UNHCR’s registration base, which in Jordan involves the use of a biometric ... and beneficiaries access their cash using a biometric iris-scanning system installed at bank ATMs. ...... -
First results of family counting in Bangladesh find every third refugee household vulnerable
7 Nov 2017 ... UNHCR has met the Minister of Home Affairs overseeing the individual biometric registration exercise and briefed on the progress made on the family counting. The exercise, conducted jointly by UNHCR ......