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Afghanistan

In-Depth Reports  

The US and UN must ensure all Afghan refugee returns are voluntary, and resources must be allocated for durable solutions for refugees and returnees.

Overview
Millions of Afghans need help rebuilding their lives and country. While all Afghans suffer from the government’s poor capacity and the country’s lack of services, Afghan refugees and returnees have been neglected and are particularly vulnerable. To increase regional stability, the United States and other donor nations must allocate their resources differently to tackle problems that are specific to vulnerable Afghans.

Current Humanitarian Situation
Since 2002, in the largest refugee return process ever, over five million Afghans have gone home, the vast majority from neighboring Pakistan and Iran. More than half of these returns took place within the first two years, as Afghans seized the opportunity to rebuild their lives and their country following the fall of the Taliban regime. Today more than three million registered refugees remain in exile – 2.1 million in Pakistan and 0.9 million in Iran – and hundreds of thousands more are living abroad to escape economic hardship or targeted violence. Many are now being pressured to re¬turn home despite the fact that conditions for sustainable returns are often not met.

The security situation inside Afghanistan continues to deteriorate in many parts of the country, making it difficult for the UN and international aid agencies to provide adequate assistance. Pro¬grams targeted specifically at returnees are needed to ensure that this particularly vulnerable segment of the population benefits directly from the money being poured into the country. Refugees International is also concerned about the need for durable solutions for Afghan refugees who wish to stay in Pakistan.

Action Needed

  • The US and the UN should uphold principles of international refugee law, and ensure that any returns from Pakistan are voluntary
  • The US and other donor countries should support integration and reintegration programs in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reallocate their resources to fund existing and new programs targeted at refugees and returnees
In Depth Reports
Afghanistan: Invest in People
07/10/2008
Millions of Afghans need help rebuilding their lives and country. The U.S. and other donor nations must allocate resources to tackle problems that are specific to vulnerable Afghans.  The humanitarian situation is worsening in Afghanistan. Millions of Afghans need help rebuilding their lives and country. While all Afghans suffer from the government’s poor capacity and the country’s lack of services, Afghan refugees and returnees have been neglected and are particularly vulnerable.
Successes
Three months after Refugees International called for improved coordination of humanitarian assistance programs in Afghanistan in July 2008, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced it would establish a presence in the country. In addition to plans for a main office in Kabul, the agency plans to set up four regional offices throughout the country.