Attachments
Regional Situation
Overview
In 2024, the humanitarian and human rights situation inside Afghanistan continued to deteriorate. A nonreturn advisory remains in place, pending observance of international human rights norms and standards essential for sustainable and dignified return. Nonetheless, over 156,000 Afghans have returned to the country during the first half of the year from Pakistan. Housing, access to finance, and food assistance, together with the provision of essential documentation and protection services for children, women and girls constitute the principal needs upon arrival to final destinations in Afghanistan. Fostering new economic opportunities for refugees and host communities remains essential for sustainable return, through investments in entrepreneurship, improving market access, and access to Sharia-compliant microfinance.
The situation for Afghans in the neighbouring host countries has become increasingly challenging, with economic fragility reducing livelihoods opportunities, a spiralling cost of living crisis, and rising instances of xenophobia. Since 2021, over 1.6 million Afghans have sought safety and protection in Iran and Pakistan, adding a significant additional burden to the two host countries which now host over 8 million Afghans. As Afghans become the largest refugee population globally this year, surpassing Syrian nationals, the principal host countries who have hosted Afghans for decades need to be adequately supported. The sub-region needs continued and increased assistance in line with the Global Compact on Refugees and the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR).
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 4.5 million Afghans residing in the country and is issuing Smart ID Cards 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 returned to Afghanistan – with an estimated 30 percent subsequently re-entering Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan hosts some 1.3 million Afghan refugees and over 1.5 million Afghans of other status. Pakistan’s long-standing and commendable tradition of hospitality toward those in need of asylum was challenged in 2023 by the government’s implementation of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” (IFRP), which sought to repatriate over one million foreign nationals without valid documents. Since the roll-out of the IFRP, some 647,000 Afghans, mostly those undocumented, returned to Afghanistan as a result of pressure and fearing arrest as at the end of June 2024. Numbers of returns in 2024 have significantly decreased, following a pause in the roll-out of the IFRP. RRP partners continue to highlight the risk of involuntary returns from Pakistan and Iran. Women and girls, journalists, musicians, artists, and ethnic minorities, in view of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, are particularly at risk.
There is a small window of opportunity to ensure that neighbouring host countries are adequately supported to continue hosting millions of Afghans. The alternatives include the continued destabilization of displaced populations and a risk of onward movements as the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Afghanistan continues. 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. A total of 51 partners (13 UN agencies, 19 INGOs, and 19 local civil society organizations) with budgetary requirements of USD 620.4m this year, aim to reach a total population 7.3m, including refugees and their host communities. At mid-year, funding stood at USD 153m, constituting 25% of overall needs.