AFGHANISTAN SITUATION #2 As of 16 August 2021

UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC (RBAP) EXTERNAL UPDATE: AFGHANISTAN SITUATION #2 As of 16 August 2021

KEY DISPLACEMENT FIGURES

2.9M 550,780 72,375 Estimated internally displaced Estimated total conflict induced Refugees and asylum-seekers in persons within Afghanistan as internal displacement within Afghanistan as of 11 August 2021 of 31 December 2020 Afghanistan since 1 January 20211

TIMELINE IN KEY EVENTS 2.2M 5,174 31 May Refugees and asylum-seekers from Estimated newly arrived Afghan refugees More than 200,000 IDPs induced by Afghanistan in neighboring countries as of who approached UNHCR and Partners in conflict, recorded since January 2021 2 31 December 2020 neighboring countries since 1 January 2021

HIGHLIGHTS 6 July . During the reporting period, political upheaval, conflict and violence, and a deteriorating International troop withdrawal largely humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has brought increased human suffering and civilian complete displacement in the country. . Some 550,000 Afghans have now been internally displaced in the country since the 13 July beginning of the year, in addition to 2.9 million Afghans already internally displaced at the UNHCR warns 14 July of a imminent UNAMA end of 2020. Since the beginning of the year, some 120,000 Afghans have fled from rural humanitarian increasingly areas and provincial towns to Kabul province – including some 20,000 since the start of crisis concerned of July. Some 80 per cent of nearly a quarter of a million Afghans forced to flee since the end abuses and of May are women and children, whom the conflict is taking the highest toll on. violations alleged . While the vast majority of Afghans forced to flee their homes remain within the country, in Afghanistan 15 July more than 5,000 refugees have approached UNHCR or partners this year in neighboring UNHCR provides countries, with most reporting having left Afghanistan for security and conflict-related support to more reasons. than 100,000 . The total number of Afghans who have left the country seeking safety is, however, likely IDPs in 2021 15 July to be higher than those approaching UNHCR or partners, largely owing to the reports from UN warns of the Iranian authorities that irregular arrivals of Afghans into Iran have recently been Afghan funding shortfall and estimated at some 5,000 people per day – up to three times the daily average. 6 August deepening . UNHCR continues to monitor the situation at the borders of countries neighboring Some 200 humanitarian Afghanistan, calling on authorities to keep border crossings open for those who may need refugees cross crisis from Nimruz to seek safety. UNHCR is working to improve information collection on new arrivals at province, border areas, though access remains a key challenge. Afghanistan, . Amid intensified clashes in Nimruz province in the south-west of Afghanistan, some 200 into Iran Afghan refugees were forced to flee to Iran in the reporting period, though the total 9 August Conflict induced number of arrivals due to the clashes could be higher. IDPs cross . Limited regular movements of Afghan individuals from Afghanistan to Pakistan has been 500,000 this year observed at the two main border crossing points between the two countries during the 13 August in Afghanistan UNHCR warns reporting period, largely due to temporary border closures. Afghanistan’s . No refugee movements from Afghanistan to Tajikistan by land border crossing points were conflict taking the observed during the reporting period. heaviest toll on . Given the situation in Afghanistan, Afghans outside of the country may have international displaced women protection needs. UNHCR has therefore strongly welcomed the actions taken by several and children states to temporarily halt deportations of failed asylum-seekers and ensure access to asylum procedures.

RESPONSE . As part of the broader UN effort, UNHCR has helped assess the needs of almost 400,000 internally displaced civilians since the start of the year. Responding to the most critical priorities, UNHCR has provided food, shelter, cash, hygiene and sanitary kits and other lifesaving assistance, together with partners to more than 230,000 people this year. UNHCR has also undertaken protection monitoring covering 32 provinces in 2021. . UNHCR currently has some 200 staff in Afghanistan, in addition to some 13 national NGO partners on the ground providing critical assistance. . UNHCR and partners remain operational in nearly three quarters of districts in Afghanistan, though UNHCR’s access to internally displaced persons and communities in some areas of the country has been constrained in recent weeks, owing to the deteriorating security situation and conflict. . In Iran, UNHCR has provided immediate assistance to new arrivals from Nimruz in Afghanistan, in cooperation with the Iranian authorities, including essential items. UNHCR and partners continue to assess the needs on the ground and are prepared to scale up the response, should this be required. . UNHCR continues to work with authorities in some of the countries neighbouring Afghanistan to plan and prepare for potential future movements of Afghan refugees. Across the region, UNHCR is prepositioning essential stocks and items for potential movements, including tents and other core-relief items.

Publishing date: 16 August 2021 | Author: UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP). 1 Source OCHA, as of 15 August: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/idps 2 Estimated newly arrived Afghan refugees includes the number of confirmed refugees who were interviewed by UNHCR, recently arrived and/or number of refugees who approached UNHCR and Partners in Tajikistan (4,174) and Iran (1,000) since 1 January 2021. The overall number could be higher. UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC (RBAP) AFGHANISTAN EMERGENCY - REGIONAL OVERVIEW MAP as of 16 August 2021 Districts of Republican Ahal UZBEKISTAN Chardzhou Dushanbe Subordination TAJIKISTAN Kashkadarya !A TURKMENISTAN Gorno-Badakhshan 6,000 Autonomous Surkhandarya Khatlon Region Region CHINA Hairatan/ Sherkhan-Bandar/ Aqinah Termez Panj-e-Payon 4,174 Mary Badakhshan Balkh Kunduz Ishkashim Jawzjan A Kunduz !! ! Takhar Pakistan-administered Mazar-i-Sharif !A Mashad 158,514 Kashmir Legend 54,369 Samangan Faryab Baghlan xx,xxx Estimated number of IDPs within Afghanistan Panjsher as of 31 December 2020 Razavi Turgundi Sar-e-Pul Nuristan Registered refugees and asylum-seekers from Khorasan Bamyan 80,180 xx,xxx Afghanistan in neighbouring countries Badghis as of 31 December 2020 Dogharoun/Islam Qala Bamyan!! Kapisa Kunar JAMMU Dogharoun Laghman x,xxx Estimated internal displacement within Afghanistan !! Parwan since 1 January 2021, who remain displaced A AND !! Kabul! Estimated newly arrived Afghan refugees 2 Herat Ghor A Haripur 780,000 66,771 107,021 Wardak ! Torkham x,xxx whoK haveA SapproachedHM IUNHCRR and Partners in ! neighboring countries since 1 January 2021 36,388 Jalalabad ! Herat !A Peshawar Estimated number of irregular arrivals of Afghans A F G H A N I S T A N Paktya x,xxx into IranIndia-administered reported by the authorities, which is up to 3 !A three times the previously estimated daily average 1,000 Daykundi ! 1 ! Kohat Islamabad Registered Afghan refugees PoRKashmir card holders. Khost 2 Registered Afghan refugees Amayesh card holders. 4,000 2,888,600 Ghazni 3 ~5,000 It includes the number of confirmed refugees who recently per day Uruzgan arrived and the refugees who approached UNHCR and Paktika Khyber Partners since end of June. Farah PAKISTAN ISLAMIC Pakhtunkhwa !A UNHCR Country Office Zabul 3,836 !A UNHCR Sub-Office REPUBLIC Abu Nasr-e-Farahi !! UNHCR Field Office/Unit 1,448,1001 OF IRAN ! PARRs - Priority Areas for Return South ! and Reintegration Milak/Zaranj Hilmand Kandahar Khorasan Encashment Centre Sistan and Balochistan Baluchestan Kandahar Spin Boldak/Chaman Proof of Registration Jalq Card Modification Centre Nimroz 43,701 !! Loralai Transit/Reception Centre !A Quetta Punjab Voluntary Repatriation Centre ISLAMIC Provisional Site INDIA REPUBLIC Kuhak/ Mirjaveh/Taftan Balochistan Official Crossing point OF IRAN Chadgi !! Dalbandin Arrows do not reflect the routes but only indicate outflow movement. International boundaries PAKISTAN The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. Admin 1 State/Province boundaries

Data sources: UNHCR operations, OCHA | Author: UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) For feedback and clarifications, please write to UNHCR RBAP at < [email protected] >