Afghan Refugees: Hope for the Future?

by Elizabeth Dovell

The problem of Afghan people living as refugees has been an issue following the Soviet-led invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the subsequent Afghan civil war, fought between warring factions of the mujahideen. Since then, millions of refugees have settled in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. Many returned immediately following the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Yet millions remain in Pakistan and Iran, with more in other countries. The issue of human rights and the well-being of these reintegrated Afghan people is an issue of great concern to the United Nations and related subsidiary bodies.

The issue at hand involves Afghan refugees living abroad and their right of return to Afghanistan, as well as their quality of life should they return to the country. Decades of conflict in the country have caused this massive refugee crisis. Afghanistan is currently the country with the largest number of refugees living abroad, and more than 900,000 internally displaced people in the country. Many refugees are registered with UNHCR and live inside the refugee camps of Pakistan and Iran. Though not an ideal living situation, these refugees have access to shelter, food, education, and are protected by UNHCR. Refugees living outside the camps only have access to UNHCR- monitored voluntary repatriation to Afghanistan. Because the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is closed, many refugees cross without registering themselves and are considered illegal immigrants upon arrival in Pakistan.

UNDP launched the anti-corruption strategy Accountability and Transparency (ACT) project with the High Office of Oversight in Kabul in 2009. According to the press release, the goal of this strategy is to take “a much more comprehensive approach with a clearer focus on capacity development and engagement with a larger number of government institutions and civil society organizations.”

UNDP strives to improve development and infrastructure problems in Afghanistan, which contribute to the refugee problem. When Afghan refugees return to the country, they are faced with huge obstacles. For those who have lived outside the country for so long, their lives have changed dramatically; their education status, jobs, and general lifestyle are some of the changes that refugees encounter upon return to their home country.

The World Bank is currently focused on achieving the MDGs, and is committed to reducing poverty. An international institution that provides financial support to developing countries, the World Bank focuses on infrastructure creation, government strengthening, and fighting corruption. A recent World Bank report on Afghanistan declares security as the main factor for development. The report states “Progress in developing different parts of the security sector has been uneven; with improvements in the national police has being slow and reform and capacity building in the justice sector lagging far behind.”

According to the Afghanistan Compact, by the end of 2010 “all refugees opting to return and internally-displaced persons will be provided assistance for rehabilitation and integration in their local communities; their integration will be supported by national development programs, particularly in key areas of return." In addition to outlining the country’s economic and security goals, the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, approved by President Karzai in April 2008, outlines the Afghan government’s strategies for governance, rule of law, and human rights. ANDS plans to strengthen democratic practices and institutions in these fields, as well as government accountability. Along with the Afghanistan Compact, ANDS serves to coordinate reconstruction in the country. The Strategy also address the voluntary return principle, and recognizes the problem the principle faces in Iran and Pakistan’s desire to expel most Afghan refugees.

Both the Compact and the Strategy include objectives and indicators for the voluntary return and reintegration of Afghan returnees. The level of returning refugees is dependent upon Afghanistan’s progress towards political security and stability. Afghanistan’s security situation has deteriorated in the past several years, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country. This has made it difficult for UNHCR to assist in the area and have access to returnees. The majority of refugees still living in Pakistan and Iran have been in exile for more than 20 years.

The UN has mandated The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a NATO-led operation in Afghanistan, currently assisting the Afghan government in maintaining peace and security. ISAF, based on UN Security Council Resolutions

The current situation in Afghanistan is closely monitored by UNHCR. A recent report filed by United Nations News Service highlights the worsening human rights situation in the region. "Gross human rights violations remain a serious threat to continuing efforts to transform Afghan society," states the report. "A culture of impunity prevails, and is deeply entrenched; this is manifested in the lack of political will to advance the transitional justice process to address past abuses as well as the absence of accountability for current human rights violations.”

Due to Afghanistan’s inability to accept such a large amount of refugees during this time, UNHCR is moving some abroad, mostly to Western Europe and Canada.

Though efforts to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan have been made by UN agencies such as UNHCR, UNDP, and the World Bank, the security situation is not stable enough for the remaining Afghan refugees to return home. The UN must continue its reintegration for returning refugees and it’s integration for refugees seeking asylum abroad. Ideally, the UN would provide each refugee family with living accommodations, materials to meet their basic needs, medical and psychological care, and career counseling.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the International Conference on Afghanistan in the Hague on 31 March 2009, stating that 2009 is a critical year for the country. Secretary Ki-moon acknowledged Afghanistan’s problems in terms of terrorism, organized crime, flawed elections, and the country’s illicit drug trade (though poppy cultivation has decreased). The Secretary pointed out successes in the field of health, education, and military, yet recognized that there is still much work to be done. He warns against pessimism and commends President Obama’s strategy of infrastructure building, military strengthening, and increased cooperation between the government of Afghanistan and Pakistan. “This represents a qualitative change in policy that deserves widespread support,” Secretary Ki-moon says, “improved security and decreased violence will provide a substantial foundation for greater civil society involvement in the political process. It will also help us expand our assistance efforts for the reconstruction of the country." The Secretary-General reaffirms the UN’s commitment to promoting human rights in the country, improving food security and land cultivation, improve governance, and establishing the rule of law in the country.

Though optimism is vital when dealing with such an extreme human rights issue, the UN must keep its budget in mind, and continue to focus on how best to allocate funds so the maximum number of refugees may benefit from its services. Therefore, on a more realistic level, the UN should aim for providing the best care for refugees that it can. A reasonable policy would be providing each family with the option of staying in whichever country they are currently in (Pakistan, Iran, etc.) and becoming either permanent residents or citizens, or returning to Afghanistan. Though the security situation in the country is currently unstable, efforts are being made on behalf of Karzai’s administration and the international community as a whole. Afghan refugees should retain the right to return back to their country of origin.

The best hope for solving or reducing the refugee crisis is for UN agencies such as UNHCR, UNDP, and the World Bank to continue their efforts in the region. The MDGs offer hope for reconstruction and the restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan. A main issue in the MDGs, poverty, is a key factor that perpetuates the refugee situation. Though the issue seems daunting, possible solutions include reintegration for returning refugees, integration for refugees seeking asylum elsewhere.