Suffering protracted conflict and insecurity as well as disasters such as droughts, floods and storms, Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe internal displacement crises. The needs remain enormous with half of the Afghan population requiring humanitarian assistance.
In addition to the 2.9 million IDPs registered in 2020, as of 29 August 2021 about 570,482 Afghans have been newly displaced since January 2021, with 32 out of 34 provinces recording levels of forced displacement due to conflict and human rights violations. Some 120,000 Afghans have fled to Kabul province from rural areas and provincial towns, of which 20,000 only since the beginning of July. 80% of the people forced to flee are women and children. (UNHCR)
With the announcement of the withdrawal of international troops – started in May and ended on 30 August 2021 – the already uncertain situation rapidly deteriorated. Although there are still no precise figures about the number of Afghans fleeing the country, only between 7 July 2021 and 9 August 2021 133,370 new IDPs were registered and others are still trying to cross international borders. (OCHA) As of 1 September 2021, there are 72,065 refugees and asylum seekers in Afghanistan.
While underlying the urgency of humanitarian corridors and calling on all countries to allow civilians fleeing Afghanistan access their territories, international organisations are also calling for a ban on forced returns of Afghan nationals, including asylum seekers whose claims were previously rejected.
For other information:
- Avvenire.it, Afghanistan. Tre idee per gli afghani richiedenti asilo in Europa
- Agensir, Afghanistan. Card. Bassetti: “Parrocchie e diocesi in campo per l’accoglienza”
- CEC-COMECE joint statement on Afghanistan: Call for prayer, solidarity and urgent action to protect the vulnerable
- European Commission, Statement by Commissioner Johansson on the situation in Afghanistan at the extraordinary meeting of Interior Ministers
- ICMC Europe Joins NGOs’ Call for EU To Guarantee Protection of Afghan Refugees
- ICMC, Resettlement Agencies Call on the Government to Provide Immediate Support to Afghans in Need of Protection
- International Committee of the Red Cross, A statement on Afghanistan from Robert Mardini, the director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross
- IOM Director General Statement on the Situation in Afghanistan
- Sant’Egidio, I primi evacuati da Kabul accolti all’aeroporto di Fiumicino dalla Comunità di Sant’Egidio
- UNAMA Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Midyear Update
- OCHA, Internal Displacement due to conflict
- UNHCR, Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Afghanistan
- UNHCR position on returns to Afghanistan
- UNHCR Flash External Update: Afghanistan Situation as of 20 August 2021
- UNHCR Flash External Update: Afghanistan Situation as of 01 September 2021
- UNHCR warns Afghanistan’s conflict taking the heaviest toll on displaced women and children
- UNICEF
- UN News, Displaced Afghans face ‘continued deterioration’ in country
- Vatican News, UN warns of Afghanistan ‘humanitarian crisis’
- Vatican News, Economy of Francesco launches global march for Afghan women
- Vatican News, Bishops’ Conferences speak out on Afghanistan
- Vatican News, Il Papa prega per l’Afghanistan: trovare soluzioni al tavolo del dialogo
- Vatican News, G7 su Afghanistan: il ritiro entro il 31 agosto. La Santa Sede invoca rispetto per la dignità umana