Afghanistan’s crisis deepens with escalating food shortages and human rights violations 

UNHCR and UNICEF warn of Afghanistan’s deepening crisis, with escalating food shortages human rights violations, and alarming levels of child malnutrition. Meanwhile, the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad expresses concern over Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan migrants. Afghanistan remains mired in a deepening humanitarian and economic crisis, with escalating food shortages, natural disasters, and human rights violations threatening to destabilize the region well into 2025, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned in a report released Wednesday.

While security conditions have improved in some areas, the report underscores that life has grown increasingly difficult, especially for women and girls. A newly imposed morality law has further reinforced the Taliban’s restrictive policies, systematically erasing women from public life by banning them from education, employment, and social spaces.

The crisis has driven millions of Afghans to flee their homeland, with neighboring Iran and Pakistan bearing the brunt of this mass displacement. Together, they host around 8 million Afghan refugees—the largest such population in the world.

Tehran maintained access to healthcare and education for many refugees through Smart ID Cards, formalising their status and ease access to essential services

Iran alone shelters at least 3.8 million Afghan refugees and undocumented migrants, including over a million who have arrived since 2021. Despite the economic strain, Tehran has maintained access to healthcare and education for many refugees through Smart ID Cards, which formalize their status and ease access to essential services.

Pakistan, meanwhile, is home to approximately 3.2 million Afghan refugees and migrants, with women and children making up 76 percent of this population. However, the report notes that Pakistan has become an increasingly hostile environment for Afghans in recent years.

In October 2023, Pakistan’s Apex Committee approved a mass deportation policy under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), targeting undocumented migrants—a decision that has disproportionately impacted Afghans. Since mid-September 2023, more than half a million Afghans have been forcibly expelled from Pakistan, the report states, leaving many to face an uncertain and precarious future back in Afghanistan.

This dire scenario has led to mass displacement, with millions fleeing to neighboring countries. Iran and Pakistan now host around 8 million Afghan refugees, the largest such population worldwide. This mass movement strains these host nations’ local resources, infrastructure, and social services, creating challenges in refugee integration, employment, education, and maintaining security.

The implications for regional stability are profound, with Afghanistan’s instability potentially spilling over, threatening regional peace and security. Increased refugee flows could lead to heightened tensions or conflicts.

The international response is critical yet complicated by the political landscape; sanctions against the Taliban make aid distribution challenging, highlighting the need for a strategic, coordinated international approach to tackle both immediate humanitarian crises and long-term stability.

Afghanistan stands at a critical crossroads where international focus and action are crucial. The combination of oppressive internal policies, economic collapse, and natural disasters paints a bleak picture for the future unless there’s a concerted effort to address these multifaceted issues.

The severe impact on women and the ongoing refugee crisis underline the urgency for a re-evaluation of international strategies to foster not only survival but the restoration of dignity and rights for all Afghans.

On the other side, according to a statement released by Afghan embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, Pakistan is moving forward with the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other cities.
Under this directive, only Afghan citizens with valid visas will be allowed to remain in these areas.

In Pakistan deportations are taking place without prior official notice, leaving even the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) uninformed

The Taliban’s embassy has voiced concern over the decision, stating that deportations are taking place without prior official notice, leaving even the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) uninformed. The statement further alleges that Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been detained, searched, and forced to leave, with many relocating to other parts of Pakistan. The embassy also noted that Pakistani authorities have yet to provide formal communication on the matter.

In response, the Taliban’s diplomatic mission said it had engaged in discussions with Pakistani officials and other relevant stakeholders to seek clarity on the policy. It also called on Islamabad to issue a public announcement if this is an official directive. If, however, the actions are being carried out arbitrarily, the Taliban urged an immediate end to such measures.

UNICEF reported in January that 213 children under five in Afghanistan received critical treatment for malnutrition, underscoring the severity of the country’s humanitarian crisis

Pakistan’s crackdown on undocumented Afghan migrants has been ongoing for months, leading to the forced departure of thousands. The government had previously outlined a phased deportation strategy, which included migrants awaiting resettlement in Western countries. Meanwhile, UNICEF reported in January that 213 children under five in Afghanistan received critical treatment for malnutrition, underscoring the severity of the country’s humanitarian crisis.

Despite efforts by UNICEF and the Asian Development Bank to provide therapeutic food to 475,000 children, the situation remains dire. In the past six months, 700 children in Nangarhar have died from malnutrition and seasonal diseases.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that a decline in international aid could worsen the crisis, with an estimated 3.5 million malnourished children by 2025. This year, UNICEF urgently needs $1.2 billion to support 19 million people, including 10.3 million children.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.