UN Migration Aid for Internally Displaced Afghans

Situation - Over the past year, the people of Afghanistan weathered a series of shocks that compounded pre-existing fragility and led to extreme suffering.

• Over 70 per cent of the Afghan population cannot pay for basic food needs; half have no source of income and are reliant on humanitarian assistance.
• Remittances from overseas workers have dropped by 50 per cent, the health system is collapsing, and religious minorities continue to be attacked in their homes, schools, and places of worship.[…]
• The movement of people remains a core survival and livelihoods strategy.  Afghans continue to travel to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Türkiye, and other destinations.
• Afghanistan has also witnessed unprecedented levels of internal displacement. Almost one-third of the 5.8 million individuals currently displaced were forced to leave their homes between January 2021 and April 2022. Internal displacement and movements across borders will continue unabated if the vulnerabilities of those most affected by the crisis are not addressed effectively. 

IOM Actions- Alongside our international partners, IOM calls upon the de-facto authorities to respect, protect, and ensure the unfettered rights and freedoms of all persons – especially women and girls. This includes, among others, the freedom of movement, the right to work and education, and the right to seek asylum.

We are extremely proud of the dedication our staff in Afghanistan, both women and men, and the support they have given to those in need. They have worked tirelessly, responding to humanitarian needs while shoring up development gains, and providing life-saving assistance such as food, water, hygiene, health, return assistance, livelihood, infrastructure rehabilitation, social cohesion and protection services to more than 1.3 million people. 

In parallel, we have scaled up our response in neighbouring countries, supporting governments and host communities to achieve socio-economic recovery and inclusive sustainable development.

IOM has not and will not abandon the people of Afghanistan at their time of greatest need. We call upon the international community and our donor partners to continue to support our efforts, the efforts of our humanitarian partners, and the people of Afghanistan. Despite the progress made to date, millions more need our help – today – and  the sustained commitment of all countries to receive Afghan refugees, to fully integrate them into societies, and to refrain from deportations, arbitrary detention, and discrimination, remains essential.

Links:

• News - IOM renewing commitment to Afghanistan