Refugees International: Countries: Afghanistan

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Afghanistan

RI's Concerns

Food insecurity in Afghanistan remains a major concern. The lack of adequate rainfall and resulting drought has caused hardship for both farmers and herders. The United Nations has stated that nearly 7 million people are vulnerable to famine. 53% of the population lives below the poverty in a nation where 40% are unemployed (2007 est.).

In addition, Afghanistan continues to be plagued by insecurity and warlordism. NATO and U.S. forces continue to engage pro-Taliban elements in combat. The government and the international community are making slow progress in rebuilding the war-torn country, but Afghans are expressing frustration that they are unable to see more tangible results of peace. The recent attempt on Hamid Karzai’s life is an example of the thin veil of security that does exist. Droughts, ethnic violence in northern Afghanistan, and lack of employment have led to the continuing displacement of between 180,000-300,000 people. Roughly 3.5 million Afghans are living as refugees in Pakistan and Iran alone.

Despite international efforts to tackle opium proliferation in Afghanistan, more than 201,000 hectares are now being used for opium cultivation inside the country. While this number continues a decline in area of cultivation, production has increased, leading Afghanistan to account for 92% of the world’s heroin. Current figures note that $4 billion dollars of drug trade account for almost half of Afghanistan's $9.9 billion economy (2007 est.).

In the past, RI has played an active role in advocating on behalf of Afghan refugees, IDPs and returnees. Our last assessment mission in 2004 spotlighted the plight of a nomadic group, the Kuchis, in southern Afghanistan. Their way of life is threatened by landmines and lawlessness in the southern provinces, where the Taliban and Coalition forces are engaged in constant fighting. Since the fall of the Taliban, more than 3.5 million Afghans have returned, yet many are unable or unwilling to go back. Some 2 million registered refugees remain in Iran and some 900,000 in Pakistan. Both countries have begun a program of forceful deportation of refugees from these camps into Afghanistan in an effort to reduce the presence of Taliban fighters in their own nations. A major concern is that these camps have become successful recruiting centers for the Taliban.

RI Advocates have undertaken frequent missions to Pakistan and Afghanistan to monitor reconstruction progress, security, and the living conditions of Afghans. In January 2003, RI advocates trained Afghan women leaders in effective advocacy techniques and helped them implement an advocacy campaign focused on the incorporation of women's perspectives in the new constitution of Afghanistan. RI advocates plan to return to Afghanistan in mid-2008 to assess conditions in refugee camps in both Pakistan and Afghanistan and the obstacles faced by returnees.

Policy Recommendations

09/22/2004 Afghanistan: Aid That Works, and Two Neglected Priorities

07/15/2004 Kuchi Nomads: Displaced and Destitute in Afghanistan

07/09/2004 Afghan Refugees: Maintain Assistance As Returns Continue into 2005

07/06/2004 Water Shortages Leave Afghanistan Dependent on Food Aid

01/28/2004 No Peace without Justice: Lessons from Haiti for Afghanistan

More Policy Recommendations

08/01/2003 Remember Afghanistan?

Country Information

The population of Afghanistan is estimated to be approximately 28 million. About 5 million Afghans are living as refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other countries, and there are as many as 161,000 IDPs living mainly in southern Afghanistan. Over 3 million refugees and IDPs have returned to their homes in Afghanistan since March 2002.

Afghanistan is a multiethnic state. Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group, comprise 44 percent of the population. Tajiks make up 25 percent, and Hazaras are 10 percent. Uzbeks comprise the remaining 8 percent of the population of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is predominantly Muslim: 84 percent Sunni and 15 percent Shi'a. Afghanistan has a transitional government that was formed in June 2002. A new constitution was approved in January 2004 and national elections were held in October 2004. Hamid Karzai was elected president of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. In September of 2005, parliamentary elections were held and women won 28% of the seats available.

Political and Economic Environment

War, instability, and factional fighting have characterized Afghanistan's recent history. In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Anti-communist mujahadin forces--supplied and trained by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan--forced the withdrawal of the USSR in 1989. This period saw the beginning of the massive outflow of refugees to Pakistan and other countries. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, factional fighting among the various mujahadin groups continued, giving rise to warlordism and a lack of central government control. The Taliban emerged from this state of warlordism, and with backing from foreign sponsors, developed as a political force that was able to seize power. The Taliban gained control of most of the country, with the exception of Northern Alliance strongholds in a small area in northeast Afghanistan. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. and its allies began a military campaign against the Taliban and removed them from power. In December of that year, Afghan leaders from opposition groups and the diaspora met in Bonn, Germany, and agreed on a plan for a new government in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai was appointed as the interim leader and was elected President of the Transitional Islamic State in June 2002. In October 2004, he was elected president with over 50% of the vote.

Afghanistan is still characterized by warlordism and insecurity. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) maintains peace in Kabul, and NATO forces continue to engage pro-Taliban elements throughout the country. Highly controversial provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs), small groups of allied troops, have a presence in key areas throughout the country to promote security and extend the authority of the central government to the areas in which they are based. The authority of the central government is weak throughout most of the country, and warlords are the de facto rulers in many areas.

Afghanistan is one of the poorest and least-developed countries in the world. Access to basic services, such as healthcare and education, is limited or non-existent throughout most of the country. Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. The infrastructure has been destroyed by two decades of war, and much of the country is heavily mined. Eighty percent of the population depends on agriculture or livestock to earn a living. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, and poppy cultivation is on the increase.

Humanitarian Situation

Decades of war, drought, insecurity, and lack of funding combine to create a precarious humanitarian situation for the people of Afghanistan. After the Taliban fell from power, the international community pledged $8.2 billion to rebuild Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007. Many have criticized the international community for not following through on its promises and not providing the security and assistance required to rebuild the country.

Since March 2002, about 3.5 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran with the assistance of UNHCR. In addition, 500,000 IDPs have returned to their places of origin, usually without assistance from UNHCR. This large influx of people has overwhelmed the government's ability to provide basic services to its people. In addition, Afghanistan has experienced drought for the past four years, depriving people of their ability to earn a living. Refugees in Iran have come under increasing pressure to return to Afghanistan, and there are reports of forced deportations of Afghans. Many refugees do not want to return to Afghanistan. They cite insecurity, a lack of assistance and employment opportunities as their main reasons for wanting to remain in Pakistan and Iran instead of returning home.

The security situation inside Afghanistan continues to deteriorate in many parts of the country, making it difficult for the humanitarian community to provide assistance to vulnerable Afghans. Since 2001, millions of Afghans have returned home, both through a voluntary process of return, and forced out by their host countries. Given the current security climate and the limitations of the humanitarian community both in terms of movement and resources, RI will focus its upcoming assessment mission on the degree to which returnees can be assisted and protected to ensure a safe, sustainable return to their communities. RI is also concerned about the fate of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, particularly of those who are pushed to return by the Pakistani Government’s efforts to close down decades-old settlements in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

Updated: May 2008