AFGHAN POPULATION MOVEMENT SNAPSHOT December 2020 Since the 1979 Soviet invasion and the subsequent waves of violence that have rocked Afghanistan, millions of Afghans have fled the country, seeking safety elsewhere. The Islamic Republic of Iran boasts 5,894 km of borders. Most of it, including the 921 km that are shared with Afghanistan, are porous and located in remote areas. According to the Government of Iran, some 2000-2500 Afghans arrive in Iran every day. UNHCR Iran does not have access to border points and thus is unable to independently monitor arrivals or returns of Afghans. Afghans who currently reside in Afghanistan have dierent statuses: some are refugees (Amayesh card holders), other are Afghans who posses a national passport, while other are undocumented. These populations move across borders in various ways. 951,000 1,5-2 M 450,000 947 Amayesh Card Holders (Afghan refugees1) undocumented Afghans passport holders voluntarily repatriated in 2020 In 2001, the Government of Iran issues Amayesh Undocumented is an umbrella term used to The Comprehensive Regularisation Plan (CRP) In March 2020, UNHCR suspended its VolRep cards to regularize the stay of Afghan Refugees describe various groups of foreign nationals introduced in 2010 allowed undocumented activities as a preventive measure to reduce in the country as refugees. Each year, refugees residing in Iran including: those with an invalid Afghans to register with the government of Iran, exposure of refugees, host communities and sta have to renew their Amayesh cards. However, passport and invalid Iranian visa; those who lost and receive an Afghan passport and a visa to COVID-19. In May, UNHCR partially resumed more recently arrived Afghans do not receive an their Amayesh status for dierent reasons; those ("family passport"). The visas of those participat- VolRep activities from its Field Unit in Dogharoun, Amayesh card. The Government of Iran is in who hold a type of document, for example ing in the CRP have been extended at dierent in keeping with health and security measures, to charge of refugee status determination and Tazkara, but no legal residence for Iran; and intervals since 2012, often following high level assist refugees who have opted to return to UNHCR can advocate for a handful of refugees those who are not in possession of any type of visits by the government of Afghanistan. Afghanistan. to receive amayesh cards each year. document. REFUGEE POPULATION PER PROVINCE REPATRIATED BY LOCATION IN IRAN & INTENDED DESTINATION IN AFGHANISTAN AZERBAIJAN ARMENIA West Circle size is proportional to the Azerbaijan Ardabil number of refugees by province Ardabil East Golestan North East TURKEY Azerbaijan Khorasan Azerbaijan North West TURKMENISTAN Takhar Gilan Mazandaran Khorasan Jawzjan Azerbaijan 150,000 Gilan Golestan Balkh Kunduz Badakhshan Zanjan Razavi Zanjan Qazvin 50,000 Razavi Tehran and Khorasan Qazvin Mazandaran 10,000 Khorasan Samangan Kurdistan Alborz Semnan Semnan Panjsher Kurdistan Alborz Faryab Baghlan Khorasan Tehran Hamadan Qom KapisaNuristan provinces ISLAMIC Sar-e-Pul BamyanParwan Kermanshah Hamadan Hirat Badghis Kunar Markazi Laghman Lorestan Kermanshah REPUBLIC Kabul Qom Daykundi Nangarhar Isfahan Markazi Isfahan OF IRAN Ghor IRAQ South Khorasan WaLogarrdak Ilam AFGHANISTAN Yazd Lorestan AFGHANISTAN Paktya Chaharmahal South Khost Khuzestan Ilam Uruzgan and Bakhtiari Khorasan Ghazni Chaharmahal Farah Zabul Paktika Voluntary repatriated Kohgiluyeh and Bakhtiari Yazd by location in Iran and Boyer-Ahmad Kerman Kandahar Khuzestan 1 Fars Kohgiluyeh and Nimroz KUWAIT *The map reflects Afghan Boyer-Ahmad 10 Kerman PAKISTAN refugees as of 2015 and Iraqi Hilmand Bushehr 100 refugees as of 2013 Hormozgan Sistan and Baluchestan Disclaimer: the boundaries Bushehr Fars Intended return location SAUDI ARABIA and names shown and the Sistan and BAHRAIN in Afghanistan designations used on the map Hormozgan Baluchestan OMAN 1 do not imply ocial QATAR 10 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. 100 1 (Afghan "prima facie" refugees. There has not been a prima facie decision or statement by the GIRI on prima facie recognition fro this group. Technically Amayesh is a "temporary residency permit" and it does not specifically aord refugee status. AFGHAN POPULATION MOVEMENT SNAPSHOT INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN ONWARD MOVEMENT OF AFGHANS In 2020, displacement due to ongoing conflict and natural disasters is continuing to drive humanitarian From January to November 2020, Afghans were the second most common citizenship to claim asylum in needs in Afghanistan. Almost 286,000 people have left their homes this year due to fighting. Many of Europe (28,145 first-time claims), after Syrians (43,135 first-time claims). In October 2020, 54% of Afghan these people remain displaced across the country, as conflict and poverty prevent them from returning to asylum claimants in Europe were granted international protection. Germany received the most claims. their areas of origin. 1% 9% 2,993,000 286,000 3,000,000 Rest of the world IDPs due to conflict as of end of 2019 Afghans displaced internally in 2020 Afghans outside of Afghanistan Europe South-West Asia (mostly Iran and Pakistan) The 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview estimates 59% of newly displaced Afghans are children This number includes only Afghan refugees and that close to a million people on the move will need under 18 asylum seekers 90% humanitarian assistance by the end of the year. INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE BY PROVINCE OF ARRIVAL RETURN OF UNDOCUMENTED AFGHANS FROM IRAN 859,000 UZBEKISTAN Undocumented returnees in 2020 TAJIKISTAN # of returnees, thousands 859 Badakhshan 775 TURKMENISTAN The number of Afghans who have returned to 21 547 Balkh 3.8 19 446 464 480 Afghanistan spontaneously in 2020, without UNHCR Jwzjn. 30 8.7 Takhar Jammu support (approx. 534,000) increased 138% compared to 18 6.5 & 31 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 6.8 Kashmir 2019 (approx. 224,000), presumably due to the Faryab Smngn. Baghlan 0.5 Sar-e-Pul deteriorating financial situation in Iran and the 2.7 Nrstn. # of returnees Badghis Bamyan 1 33 Hirat Prw. 7.5 Spontaneous coronavirus pandemic. 4.4 4.2 Deportation 12 Mdn. Wrd. 31 150,000 1.2 3.5 Ghor Daykundi Ghazn. 100,000 3.4 5.2 1.6 Paktika 50,000 Farah Urz. Zabul 1 3.7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May JulJun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May JulJun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May JulJun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Nimroz Kandahar PAKISTAN 2018 2019 2020 IRAN 15 7.4 2.1 RETURNEES BORDER MONITORING UNHCR AFGHANISTAN Hilmand 83% 89% 67% Number of displaced people INDIA of returnees are undocumented stayed less than a year (thousands) are male Deportee 6 - 10 years Born in Iran Male Spontaneous returnee 1 - 5 years More than 10 years Past six years Monthly trends Female Passport holder Less than 1 year Number of IDPs (thousands) Previous 3-year average VRF holder Past year Reasons of entry to Iran Top reasons of return to Afghanistan 100k In search of employment 90% Reunite with family members in Afghanistan 33% Conflict 9% Fear of COVID-19 13% No employment opportunities in CoPR 12% 675 636 Family visit 5% 50k Other 11% 512 Move to Turkey and/or Europe 2% 470 437 Abuse by police or state authorities 8% Drought 2% 286 High cost of living/ high rent in Iran 4% For medical treatment 2% 0 Denied access to health facilities 3% 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Business 1% Threat of forced quarantine 2% Other less than 0.5% Family gatherings 2% *2018 number also includes people displaced due to drought and other factors Floods less than 0.1% Discrimination by local community 2% Sources: Refugees in Iran - BAFIA (2015); Voluntary Repatriation - UNHCR Iran (Dec 2020); Afghans outside of Afghanistan - UNHCR Refugee Data Finder as of 5 Nov; Internally displaced Afghans due to conflict and violence in 2019 - IDMC; UNHCR Factsheet “Onward Movements of Afghan Refugees and Migrants toward Europe” (Nov 2020); undocumented returnees from Iran from 2018 to Dec 2020 - IOM Afghanistan Return of Undocumented Afghans reports (31 Dec 2020); UNHCR Afghanistan returnee border monitoring - UNHCR Afghanistan (covers the period from 4 June to 21 Sep 2020); internally displaced people in Afghanistan - OCHA Aghanistan “Snapshot of Population Movements (January to October 2020)” as of 19 Nov. The numbers are subject to change as more information becomes available. Updated: 13 January 2021. Contact: Farha Bhoyroo, Communications Officer, [email protected]. .