Additional information Afghanistan
Situation in Afghanistan
There are a variety of reasons why people flee from Afghanistan and become refugees. Afghanistan has been in a state of war and conflict for over four decades, which has led to a breakdown of law and order, frequent attacks by extremist groups, and a high risk of violence and instability. Many people are forced to flee their homes due to the threat of violence or because their communities have been destroyed.
The Taliban and other extremist groups have been responsible for numerous human rights abuses, including targeted killings, kidnappings, and oppression of women and minorities. Those who are perceived to be in opposition to their ideology are particularly at risk. Additionally, Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, with high levels of unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities. Many people are unable to access basic services like healthcare and education, and struggle to make ends meet.
Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts also pose significant risks to people’s safety and well-being, and can displace them from their homes. Furthermore, Afghanistan has a history of political instability and corruption, which has contributed to the country’s ongoing challenges. This can make it difficult for people to access government services and justice, and can lead to further disillusionment with the state.
All of these factors can contribute to the decision to flee Afghanistan and seek asylum in another country. The majority of refugees fleeing Afghanistan seek safety and asylum in neighboring countries, including Pakistan and Iran. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of 2021, there are over 2.2 million registered Afghan refugees worldwide, with the majority being hosted in these two countries. Many Afghan refugees have also sought asylum in Europe, North America, and Australia, though these countries have also implemented stricter immigration policies in recent years, making it more difficult for refugees to gain asylum.
The majority of refugees fleeing Afghanistan seek safety and asylum in neighboring countries, including Pakistan and Iran. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of 2021, there are over 2.2 million registered Afghan refugees worldwide, with the majority being hosted in these two countries.
In addition, many Afghan refugees have also sought asylum in Europe, North America, and Australia. However, these countries have also implemented stricter immigration policies in recent years, making it more difficult for refugees to gain asylum.
It is worth noting that not all Afghans who leave the country are considered refugees. Some may be economic migrants who are seeking better economic opportunities, while others may be seeking education or medical treatment abroad. However, due to the ongoing challenges and risks in Afghanistan, many Afghans who leave the country do so out of necessity and are considered refugees under international law.
- Refugee route
For the Afghans fleeing the Taliban, the inhospitable route – traversing Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and into the Balkans – is the pathway, they believe, to freedom. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, following weeks of rapid successive victories across the country, the instinct of many Afghans has been to escape by any means possible. Human traffickers use a drug-smuggling route to send Afghan migrants overland to Turkey. Some Afghan migrants cross directly into Iran, but checkpoints make these routes more dangerous and expensive.
Yet in all of Afghanistan’s neighbors and much of Europe, where most hope to reach, Afghan refugees are not welcome. Pakistan has almost completed a wall along its notoriously porous border with Afghanistan, Turkey has built a 93-mile (150km) wall along its border with Iran, and Greece has also just built a border wall. “Our country will not be a gateway to Europe for illegal Afghan migrants,” said the Greek migration minister, Notis Mitarachi.
Nonetheless, Afghans have persisted. Since the withdrawal of US troops in May, the UN migration agency has reported a 40% increase in those crossing over into Pakistan, usually the first stage of the journey. Organizations on the ground in Afghanistan said they expected a mass exodus to begin in the coming weeks as more and more desperate Afghans took their chance on attempting to get to Europe, usually by paying large sums to people smugglers.
The Guardian (2021). Pathway to freedom: hostile journey awaits Afghans fleeting the Taliban. August 26th 2021.
