Attachments
On 3 October 2023, the Government of Pakistan announced plans to repatriate “illegal foreigners”. 1 In view of the ongoing humanitarian and human rights concerns in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls, UNHCR and IOM issued a joint statement urging Pakistan to maintain the protection space for Afghans in need of safety. This was followed by a joint statement by UNHCR, IOM, and UNICEF which appealed for the protection of children and families seeking safety in Pakistan. On 10 November, UNHCR declared an internal Level 2 emergency for Pakistan and Afghanistan for six months to scale up the humanitarian response in light of the rapidly evolving situation.
Population trends during the reporting period indicate that most Afghans made the decision to leave Pakistan following the announcement of the repatriation plan although deportations through Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossing points have also been also recorded.
People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well as psychosocial support. Arrivals back to Afghanistan are adding to the worsening humanitarian crisis, as winter temperatures start to dip to -4°C in some locations. Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter.
1.3 million undocumented Afghans are estimated to reside in Pakistan. Approximately 720,000 undocumented individuals and 50,000 assisted Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders) are expected to require support at border points from now through July 2024.
The sudden surge in returns in recent weeks is putting pressure on already strained resources, including shelter and basic services. Additional support is urgently needed.
UNHCR and partners in Pakistan and Afghanistan are currently working together to ensure a harmonized and coordinated cross-border response to this new emergency. To support these efforts, an inter-agency Border Consortium Appeal was launched on 8 November and recently updated. In addition, UNHCR and partners are also stepping up their presence in and around Torkham and Chaman border crossing points and accelerating efforts to ensure protection-sensitive mechanisms are in place via regular border monitoring visits and protection screenings to identify and assist people with heightened vulnerabilities and needs.
UNHCR maintains a non-return advisory for Afghanistan, which has been in place since August 2021, and continues to call for a bar on the forced returns of Afghan nationals to a country still impacted by recurrent conflict, instability and climate-induced disasters. UNHCR continues to appeal to the Government of Pakistan to maintain the protection space for Afghan nationals in need of safety and that any returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified with full respect for rights and protection of those in need.