To ensure the affected population has access to adequate basic goods and supplies to live in security and dignity, IOM is providing in-kind or cash-based multi-sectoral assistance to vulnerable refugees or migrants (whether residing in Iran or in transit) and their host communities. Prioritization of needs and selection of vulnerable households in need of assistance is carried out in coordination with national actors and upon consultation with provincial authorities. 

IOM has adopted a cash-based modality to assist the most vulnerable, meet their basic needs in a dignified manner and enable them to prioritize their immediate necessities. In cases where the provision of in-kind assistance is deemed more appropriate, IOM continues to procure and preposition NFIs to ensure that vulnerable households still have access to the essential items they need.

IOM works to protect the rights of migrants (including Afghan Amayesh card holders, head-counted, and undocumented) and host communities (especially vulnerable Iranians and returning Iranians) through case management and one-off protection services as needed, comprising vulnerability, protection risks and needs assessment, direct provision of protection services, such as cash for protection, documentation support, psychosocial support, and referrals to other specialized services. A continuous protection risk analysis will inform IOM interventions. The analysis of protection risks will include an analysis of threats, vulnerabilities, risks, and existing capacities. IOM provides capacity-building support to the Government of Iran and other stakeholders to enhance their ability to respond to the protection needs of migrants, including refugees, and the host community. In collaboration with authorities and other partners, IOM enhances infrastructure and premises to host activities for women and girls, such as setting up and running community spaces and dedicated activities for women and girls. Throughout its interventions, IOM also ensures disability inclusion.

The protection needs of the populations with whom IOM works are immense and diverse, influenced by a range of factors. These include the evolving situation in Afghanistan, economic challenges such as sanctions and inflation in Iran, and the need to enhance access to rights and freedoms for women and girls. Additionally, various protection risks faced by migrant populations contribute to these needs. Currently, these needs are primarily addressed through external referrals to partners for specific services. However, there is an urgent requirement to mobilize resources and develop comprehensive, tailored interventions that align with global protection standards.

IOM Iran supports the Government of Iran to strengthen its policy, operational systems, human resources, and administrative and technical structures required to respond more effectively to migration and border management challenges at times of humanitarian crises. IOM aims to support Iran in combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants through a range of activities and initiatives, including the provision of capacity-building to improve preparedness and establish adequate response mechanisms to protect nationals and foreigners crossing the border while ensuring that the security of the border is maintained. Through humanitarian border management activities such as training, consultations, and material upgrades, IOM seeks to help Iran in building and improving response to crisis settings on two fronts: a) Protecting crisis-affected migrants and nationals, and guaranteeing their human rights, dignity, and interests in accordance with international law; and b) Preserving national sovereignty and ensuring border security in accordance with national protocols. This is done during pre-, during, and post-crisis phases.

IOM works to address one of the main barriers to accessing specialized healthcare for vulnerable Afghans - the lack of insurance and the resulting high medical costs. Many individuals are unable to afford insurance due to their undocumented status, which can prevent them from seeking medical attention when needed. In collaboration with relevant authorities, IOM supports Amayesh card holders and undocumented Afghans to enrol into the health insurance scheme. By covering the costs of the insurance premium fee, IOM is helping to ensure that even the most vulnerable members of the Afghan community in Iran can access the healthcare they need.

Shelter activities include the distribution of NFIs and shelter materials as well as the rehabilitation of infrastructure in settlements with the aim of improving living conditions and access to essential services, including rehabilitating existing premises, such as upgrading, refurbishing, or repurposing community centres to provide social services.  At the same time, through shelter and NFI interventions, IOM will be prepared to support those affected by disasters, either those who are in displacement or local communities. IOM will ensure that target populations are supported in accessing safe, dignified long-term housing solutions to address their shelter needs in a manner that supports community inclusion and promotes social cohesion. IOM also intends to lead or co-lead the Shelter/NFI Working Group and work with Government, other UN agencies, IRCS and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for emergency preparedness and response in the Shelter/NFI Cluster.

Sustained, safe and appropriate WASH services are contributing to immediate life-saving assistance, as well as improvement of long-term public health outcomes, including preventing and containing the transmission of infectious diseases. IOM provides WASH assistance to vulnerable households through the procurement and prepositioning of hygiene items inclusive of menstrual hygiene management kits, as well as through refurbishing and rebuilding household-level sanitation facilities in Afghan settlements to promote health benefits and contribute to a more dignified and comfortable living environment. At the same time, IOM’s WASH interventions will support those affected by natural hazards of slow and rapid onset, who are in displacement or who have returned, and local communities. IOM will work to restore and improve access to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services for communities recovering from disasters, as well as in situations of increasingly limited water resources. This effort aims to address the challenges of limited access to safe drinking water, basic hygiene practices, and the recurring outbreaks of water-borne diseases.

IOM seeks to provide movement assistance to vulnerable migrants and family reunification in case of emergencies, including disasters. IOM provides safe and dignified movement assistance using a people-centred and protection-oriented approach, which includes protection and medical screening as part of pre-activities as well as additional pre-departure assistance including MHPSS, pre-embarkation checks, consular assistance, medical and legal support, provision of escorts, transit assistance (escorts for vulnerable protection or health cases, including for children and persons with disabilities), and immediate post-arrival assistance such as accommodation, onward transportation assistance, and light material assistance.

IOM’s mental health and psychosocial support will include psychosocial  first aid (PFA) and individual and group sessions by trained responders, as well as MHPSS activities provided in temporary safe spaces, especially for women, children, and persons with disabilities, and information, education and communications (IEC) material for children - all of which are essential to reduce the level of distress experienced.

IOM is seeking to strengthen the capacities of the UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in Iran, an inter-agency mechanism designed to provide emergency preparedness and response support to the Iranian Government through the provision of immediate assistance to populations affected by disasters. IOM will partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and increase emergency capacities in the short term through capacity-building and mainstreaming contingency planning into their management and operations.

The IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is a service tool and process that gathers, analyses and disseminates critical multilayered information on the mobility, vulnerabilities and needs of displaced and mobile populations. DTM is fully modular to provide context-specific assistance while leveraging IOM's most significant information management system. DTM can provide an essential evidence base that enables decision-makers to maximize resources and deliver efficient, targeted and sustainable return and reintegration as well as programming to fight the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. IOM has initiated discussions with Iranian counterparts and partners to re-introduce DTM activities in Iran to gather information including tracking migration and displacement trends, profiles of target groups, needs, and vulnerabilities to further inform response.

IOM seeks to promote the self-reliance of displaced communities through initiatives that seek to increase access to income-generating opportunities, employment and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable Afghans and host community members. IOM designs targeted interventions including supporting job creation by providing market-oriented skills development opportunities for Afghans and host community members, as well as support for their start-ups or to expand micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). While these interventions improve livelihood prospects already in the short-term, they also promote community resilience and aim to improve access to durable solutions and complementary pathways.

IOM strives to reduce potential tensions between host communities and Afghan migrants, including refugees, by supporting community-based activities and investing in social infrastructure that benefits the most vulnerable subgroups of both displaced and host communities. To achieve this goal, IOM facilitates efforts to improve access to essential services, particularly to ensure equitable access for all members of the community. This approach promotes a sense of shared responsibility and collaboration among different groups in addressing social issues, which can help foster a more cohesive and inclusive society. IOM will enhance civic engagement, promote social cohesion and extend support for displaced households and host communities. In order to mitigate anti-migrant sentiments in Iran, IOM will support the Government and civil society to strengthen their capacities to build trust and cooperation and foster communication between communities and State authorities. IOM will also support sports, cultural and economic events towards strengthening cohesion within their respective communities.

To ensure that Afghans have access to primary healthcare without overburdening the Iranian health system, IOM is actively supporting the national health sector in several ways, such as providing essential health equipment and enhancing the infrastructure of healthcare facilities. Beyond the support to static health facilities, IOM will directly support the MoH by equipping mobile units to serve remote areas and refer patients in need of higher level care into the health care system, which helps to strengthen the overall health system in Iran. These mobile units aim to improve health services in border regions with high migrant flows, offering direct accessibility to communities that are hard to reach.

Further, in collaboration with the MoH, IOM plans to implement population mobility mapping to support Iran’s syndromic surveillance system in support of prevention, detection and response to communicable diseases in the context of widespread and multidirectional human mobility. Activities will range from the collection and analysis of information on human mobility dynamics, including how migrants and other mobile populations interact with host communities, to disease surveillance and response mechanisms along mobility corridors. The population mobility mapping is designed to integrate with Iran’s existing syndromic surveillance system, aiming to enhance MoH capacity to identify potential risks and points of intervention to prevent disease spread. Systematic monitoring and evaluation integrated in activities will ensure the adaptation of strategies to mitigate risks as they evolve.

IOM’s mental health and psychosocial support will include recreational activities, counselling, individual and community awareness-raising, and focus group discussions while continuing to strengthen referral pathways to specialized mental health care services. MHPSS services will be provided as a part of protection case management, based on ad-hoc needs, and during planned interventions such as women and girls-friendly spaces and the workshop to provide prosthetic limbs, among others.

IOM works to address the climate change-migration nexus in Iran, where meteorological hazards are expected to increase in frequency and intensity and are already reversing development gains and deepening communities’ vulnerability. IOM will focus on enhancing inter-agency coordination for DRRM under the UNSDCF framework. IOM will consult with key DRR stakeholders to collect and analyze data on legal frameworks, policies, and existing information as well as to map current and potential interventions. Coordination with the United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will be established to ensure a timely and coordinated response in disaster situations. IOM plans to strengthen evidence-based policy and operational approaches to address migration in the context of climate change by producing research outputs on the intersection between slow-onset disasters and migration in Iran. IOM will also offer technical assistance and capacity-building in preparedness and response through tailored capacity-building initiatives to Iran's NDMO and the IRCS.