Internally displaced in Khogyani, Afghanistan. Photo: NRC/Enayatullah Azad

7 things you should know about the crisis in Afghanistan

Roald Høvring|Published 09. Feb 2018
Here are seven reasons why we should increase our humanitarian efforts and rethink policies aimed at returning refugees back to Afghanistan, where the situation has gone from bad to worse.

The situation in Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse, according to a recent report by the NRC.

1War and terror continue to displace millions of people.
Every day, 1,200 new people are forced to flee violence and unrest. That equals 50 people every hour. Over the last two years, one million people have been displaced from their homes.

2

Afghanistan is currently one of the world's most dangerous countries to live in
Every day, 10 civilians are killed by acts of war and terror.

3The country’s situation is impacted by a mass of refugees who have felt forced to return to the war-torn country.
In the last five years, Afghanistan has received 300,000 returned refugees each year. 

4Lack of security and humanitarian assistance causes most to end up as displaced in their own country.
Seven out of ten refugees that return to Afghanistan become internally displaced within their own country due to conflict and violence. Many say they have been forced to flee up to three times since their arrival.

5Three out of four families displaced from their homes do not get help.

Half of them suffer from food insecurity, making them cut meals and reduce food intake.
In total, 7.4 million Afghans need humanitarian aid.

  • Of these, 3.3 million live in acute distress.
  • 1.9 million have an urgent need for food aid.
  • 1.6 million have an urgent need for health services.
  • 1.1 million have an urgent need for water and sanitation services.

6Aid workers are under attack.
Last year a total of 17 aid workers were killed and 32 injured in violent attacks. This threat has also affected broader relief work, which causes fewer to get help. Relief organisations need additional resources for security, local agents and networking that can make the job safer.

7

Efforts in Afghanistan risk going to waste
Unless Western countries contribute to increased relief efforts and rethink policies aimed at returning refugees, hundreds of billions spent in the Afghanistan conflict are in danger of being squandered.