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 draught has caused hardship for both farmers and herders. Millions of Afghan nationals are in dire need of additional food aid before winter closes access to mountainous regions. A recent IRIN report notes, "Some 6.3 million people may not be able to cover their basic food needs during the 2004/2005 year."

Despite international efforts to tackle opium proliferation in Afghanistan, more than 100,000 hectares are now being used for opium cultivation inside the country – higher than the peak figure of 91,000 hectares in 1999, according to UNODC figures. Current figures note that $2.5 billion dollars of drug trade account for more than half of Afghanistan's $4.2 billion economy.

In addition, Afghanistan continues to be plagued by insecurity and warlordism. 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. Drought, ethnic violence in northern Afghanistan, and lack of employment have led to the continuing displacement of between 180,000-300,000 people, mainly Kuchi nomads living in southern Afghanistan. Roughly 2 million Afghans are living as refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other countries.

For the past three years, RI has played an active role in advocating on behalf of Afghan refugees, IDPs and returnees. 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.

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 3 million Afghans are living as refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other countries, and there are as many as 300,000 IDPs living mainly in southern Afghanistan. Almost 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 has recently been approved and national elections are scheduled to be held in June 2004. Hamid Karzai is the current president of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.

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 defeated them. 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. A new constitution, which mandates equality between women and men, was recently approved, and national elections are scheduled for June 2004.

Afghanistan is still characterized by warlordism and insecurity. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) maintains peace in Kabul, and coalition 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 $4.5 billion to rebuild Afghanistan. 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 2.5 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 deportations of Afghans to their country. Many refugees do not want to return to Afghanistan. They cite a lack of assistance, insecurity, and a lack of employment opportunities as their main reasons for wanting to remain in Pakistan and Iran.

Updated: February 2004