Attachments
Regional Overview
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most urgent crises. Human rights violations and abuses, economic instability, acute food insecurity and natural disasters are likely to threaten regional stability well into 2025. While overall security has improved and previously inaccessible areas are now reachable in Afghanistan, significant challenges persist. This is especially true for women and girls, with a new morality law that codifying already repressive decrees by the de facto authorities, barring them from schools, universities, workplaces and public spaces. The Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan host some 8 million Afghans, the largest refugee population globally. While the two countries have hosted Afghans for decades, the situation has become increasingly challenging, with economic fragility reducing livelihoods opportunities, a spiralling cost of living crisis, and rising instances of xenophobia, deepening hardship for already vulnerable Afghans.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently the largest refugee-hosting country in the world, with a population of at least 3.8 million refugees and refugee-like individuals, including over 1 million who arrived since 2021. While limitations in State service delivery have become more acute, Iran has continued to extend its inclusive health and education policies to all Afghans residing in the country with Smart ID Cards being provided to the head counted population, providing regularized documentation, and facilitated access to services. Equally, reflective of a contracting economic situation and tensions between refugees and the host community on perceived labour market competition, up to 418,000 Afghans have chosen to return to Afghanistan. Equally, instances of arrest, detention and deportation of Afghans in Iran have steadily increased since 2021, with the authorities adopting stricter measures for the identification and deportation of Afghan nationals, with some 377,400 deportation-related arrivals in Afghanistan during the first six months of 2024, an increase of 22% compared to the same period in 2023 – although 30 percent of whom are estimated to subsequently re-entering Iran.
Domestically, limited livelihoods opportunities and poverty – exacerbated by the combined impact of high inflation and sanctions – continue to drive needs. As of October 2024 (for the period from 20 October 2023 to 20 October 2024), Iran’s inflation rate stood at over 30 percent, according to the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) marking the fifth consecutive year where inflation has exceeded 35 per cent. As a result, the most disadvantaged in society, which mostly comprises Afghan refugees, are forced to make difficult trade-offs or resort to harmful coping mechanisms to make ends meet. In 2025, Afghans will continue to experience greater challenges covering associated cost of school enrolment, healthcare, or documentation. Those without documentation face a particularly precarious situation due to the persistent risk of deportation, various forms of exploitation, abuse and trafficking, and further barriers to accessing services. At the same time, there is a significant strain on Iranians and the inclusive services extended to Afghans, which can undermine social cohesion and subsequently limit opportunities for self-reliance.
Pakistan hosts approximately 3.2 million Afghan refugees and Afghans of other statuses (76 per cent of whom are women and children), reflecting the long history of solidarity and support extended by the country. However, in recent years, the protection environment has become increasingly challenging. In early October 2023, Pakistan’s national Apex Committee endorsed the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) to return foreigners without valid documents, largely Afghans. As of early February 2024, over 500,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan since 15 September.
Against a challenging economic situation2,increasing insecurity and evolving protection landscape, Pakistan continues to grapple with the complexities of providing adequate support and ensuring the protection of a substantial population of Afghan refugees and Afghans of other statuses while balancing the needs of its own citizens. Recognizing the plight of Afghan refugees and those in refugee-like situations, including women and girls without documentation and unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) regardless of their documentation status, there is a pressing need for sustainable solutions and comprehensive support systems. Ensuring access to education and healthcare for all and creating opportunities for livelihoods to alleviate poverty and promote self-reliance are other critical priorities. The multifaceted challenges presented by the current dynamic protection environment highlight the need to work collaboratively and proactively with authorities to promote the safety and well-being of Afghan refugees and individuals of other statuses in Pakistan and to foster an environment that upholds Afghan’s rights and safeguards their dignity while addressing host communities’ concerns.
The Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan Situation 2024-2025 brings together a total of 51 partners (13 UN agencies, 19 INGOs, and 19 local civil society organizations) with budgetary requirements of USD 622.0M in 2025. More predictable funding for the RRP has become even more important considering the decreasing funding in recent years, which has been exacerbated by competing global emergencies and growing donor fatigue. There is a small window of opportunity to ensure that neighbouring host countries are adequately supported to continue hosting millions of Afghans.
Host communities require significant support, with a need for scaled investments in public services and infrastructure since they continue to support large Afghan populations. In support of protection, resilience, and solutions, RRP partners continue to work through government systems wherever possible, supporting national authorities’ efforts to maintain and strengthen those systems in the spirit of responsibility sharing.