Afghan Refugees
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UNHCR STATISTICAL FACTSHEET Onward Movements of Afghan Refugees January -February 2021 This is a monthly update from the Regional Mixed Movement Monitoring Unit (R3MU) of UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, presenting available key figures on the onward movement of Afghan refugees and migrants from Southwest Asia. Registered Afghan Refugees in Southwest Asia MONITORING AFGHAN MOVEMENTS The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations Limitations ▪ Information on Afghan movements, particularly within Southwest Asia, is difficult to obtain due to porous and remote border areas, and limited access to * refugees and asylum-seekers. In addition, irregular movements are by nature clandestine and difficult to verify. * According to the data received from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in October 2020, on which consultations are ongoing. Source: UNHCR Situation Portal, Afghanistan Situation. ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES WITH MOST AFGHANS AFGHAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY Top 3 Countries (other than Iran and Pakistan)¹ Key Figures Country Afghan refugees and asylum seekers ▪ 116,403 Afghan asylum seekers and 980 Afghan refugees hosted are residing in Turkey.² India 15,689 ▪ Roughly 4,400 Afghans in an irregular situation were Indonesia 7,692 arrested by Turkish authorities in January-February 2021.³ Malaysia 2,478 ▪ 6,000 Afghans were deported from Turkey to Afghanistan from January to December 2020. ▪ About 90% of the world’s Afghan refugees are hosted in Iran and Pakistan, though sizeable populations exist in other ² Source : UNHCR Refugee Statistics (2020) ³ Source: Republic of Turkey – Directorate General of Migration Management, countries in the Asia Pacific region. Irregular Migration ⁴ Source: OCHA, Afghanistan Snapshot of Population Movements (January- December 2020) ¹ Source: UNHCR Annual Statistical Report end-2019 AFGHAN ARRIVALS IN EUROPE (LAST 12 MONTHS) AFGHAN NEW ARRIVALS IN EUROPE Afghans Arriving in Europe Compared to Syrian Arrivals⁵ The route to Europe 792 ▪ Afghans made up of all arrivals to Europe through the 800 6% Mediterranean from 2020 – February 2021.⁵ Afghans Syrians 700 ▪ In January 2021, Afghans are the second most common In the second half of 2020, 602 citizenship to claim asylum in Europe (3,900 claims), after 600 Afghans started arriving in Italy in greater numbers, Syrians (10,400 claims).⁶ In November 2020, 61% of Afghan 500 taking boats from Turkey and asylum claimants in Europe were granted international Greece. One quarter of protection, the highest level in 2020. In October and 400 377 arrivals were in Italy and the remainder landed in Greece. November 2020, Afghan children made up nearly half of all 300 277 asylum applications by unaccompanied minors in Europe.⁷ 282 210 215 Gender Age Breakdown of New Arrivals in Greece⁸ 200 168 131 155 48 100 16 70 87 88 Men Women Children 60 60 86 7 50 8 10 32 26 34% 21% 45% 0 3/20 4/20 5/20 6/20 7/20 8/20 9/20 10/20 11/20 12/20 1/21 2/21 ⁵ Source: UNHCR Situation Portal for the Mediterranean Situation. Peak movements Key Figures – Greece⁹ in early 2016 saw an average 16,000 Afghans arriving in Europe per month. ⁶ Source: Eurostat Database: Asylum and Managed Migration ▪ 1,530 Afghan Unaccompanied Children reported to be in ⁷ Source: EASO Latest Asylum Trends Greece in January 2021 (7% lower than September 2020). ⁸ Out of the total number of arrivals, 26% are boys and 19% girls. Source: UNHCR Afghan Children make up 38% of all Unaccompanied Greece Sea Arrivals Dashboard July 2020 Children in Greece. ⁹ Source: E.K.K.A. Unaccompanied Children in Greece December 2020/September 2020 www.unhcr.org .