As the conflict in Afghanistan escalates, UNHCR is concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, particularly the impact of the conflict on women and girls. Since the end of May, nearly a quarter of a million Afghans have been forced to flee their homes, about 80 per cent of them women and children.
The United Nations high commissioner is concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. As widespread conflicts intensify, the United Nations in Afghanistan continues to call for a permanent ceasefire and a negotiated settlement of disputes to protect the interests of the Afghan people.
Escalating fighting has resulted in huge casualties. The UN aid mission has warned that Afghanistan will experience its highest number of civilian casualties since the UN recorded a year of civilian casualties if violence does not ease significantly.
UNHCR is particularly concerned about the impact of conflict on women and girls. Since the end of May, nearly a quarter of a million Afghans have been forced to flee their homes, about 80 per cent of them women and children.
Since the beginning of the year, some 400,000 civilians have been forced from their homes. Prior to that, the number of Afghans displaced throughout the country had reached 2.9 million by the end of 2020.
Clashes are reported in 32 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.
The vast majority of Afghans forced to flee remain at home, as close as the war allows to their homes. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 120,000 Afghans have fled from rural areas and out-of-province towns to Kabul province.
The U.N. refugee agency unhcr called on the international community to urgently step up its support in response to the latest displacement crisis in Afghanistan.
As part of a broader United Nations operation, UNHCR assessed the needs of nearly 400,000 internally displaced civilians this year. UNHCR responds first and foremost to the most essential priorities by working with partners to provide food, shelter, hygiene kits and other life-saving assistance to those in need.
In view of the continuing intensification of the crisis in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called on Afghanistan’s neighbours to keep their borders open.
The inability to seek security can result in the loss of countless civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to expand its humanitarian response programme in response to need-help from the Government of Afghanistan.
In the context of widespread insecurity in many parts of Afghanistan, it is becoming increasingly clear that Afghans outside Afghanistan may need international protection. UNHCR called on all countries to ensure that they were able to seek security, regardless of their current legal status.
In view of the dramatic escalation of the conflict, UNHCR welcomed the action being taken by a number of countries. These countries temporarily suspend the deportation of failed asylum-seekers and ensure that the asylum application process is open.
