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13,274 registered refugees have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring and non-neighboring countries (11,735 from Pakistan).
235,100 individuals have been newly displaced by conflict in 2018 and profiled by OCHA as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in need of protection and assistance.
75,121 Pakistani refugees from North-Waziristan Agency have been registered in Khost and Paktika provinces.
Key Updates as at 30 September 2018
Refugee returnees: Thus far in 2018, UNHCR has assisted 13,274 refugees to return to Afghanistan (11,735 from Pakistan, 1,428 from Iran, 59 from Tajikistan and 52 from India). This is 74% fewer returns than reported in the same period in 2017.
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In 2018, the main areas of return have been Kabul, followed by Nangarhar (eastern region), Sar-e-Pul (northern region), Kunduz (northeastern region), and Logar (central region).
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11.2% of total returnees have been identified as extremely vulnerable individuals matching the criteria for UNHCR’s Persons with Specific Needs Program.
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1,075 returnees have been interviewed at the UNHCR encashment centres in 2018. The main reasons for return from Pakistan include: lack of employment opportunities,strict border controls at Torkham and Spin Boldak (which limit previously unregulated cross-border movements), the high cost of living, and uncertainty related to the extension of Proof of Registration cards by the Government of Pakistan.
IDPs: In 2018, 235,100 individuals / 34,205 families have been reported by UNOCHA to be newly displaced by conflict, with the North-eastern, North and Western regions most affected by conflict.
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Between January and mid-September 2018, UNHCR and partners have conducted 894 protection monitoring missions countrywide, and have consulted 169,787 individuals of whom 50% were women, 7% were elderly and 55% were adolescents.
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In 2018 as part of emergency assistance initiatives, UNHCR has provided 9,936 NFI kits to 60,555 individuals, of whom 58,334 were IDPs, 1,919 were returnees and 302 were refugees – and has also distributed 7,966 sanitary kits to 7,839 IDPs, 83 returnees and 44 refugees.
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Ongoing drought response: UNHCR and its partners have distributed 500 tents for 500 families and 1,200 NFI kits for 700 families to date in western Herat province.
Refugees and Asylum-seekers:
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In 2018, 3,937 Pakistani refugees have been newly registered in Khost and Paktika provinces, and the active population stands at 75,121 persons.
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524 refugees and asylum-seekers are currently registered with UNHCR in Kabul and other urban areas.
Persons with Specific Needs: In 2018, UNHCR and partners have directly assisted 1,757 PSN cases (65% female, 35% male), and 148 cases to partners for appropriate services.