UNHCR is extremely concerned by the rapid escalation of conflict in Afghanistan. Amid intensified clashes in Nimruz province in the country’s south-west, nearly two hundred Afghan refugees have been forced to flee to the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is estimated that since the beginning of the year nearly 400,000 Afghans have been internally displaced within the country – some 244,000 since May alone. UNHCR urges the Iranian authorities to keep the Milak border crossing open in light of the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Not doing so may put thousands of lives at risk. In cooperation with the Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA), UNHCR has already provided immediate assistance to new arrivals, including food and water. Together with other humanitarian actors, UNHCR is prepared to provide urgent assistance and support reception arrangements – including emergency shelter, latrines and other core relief items.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has released yesterday a non-return advisory for Afghanistan, calling for a bar on forced returns of Afghan nationals, including asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected. UNHCR calls on States to halt forcible returns of Afghan nationals who have previously been determined not to be in need of international protection. States have a legal and moral responsibility to allow those fleeing Afghanistan to seek safety, and to not forcibly return refugees. UNHCR’s advisory against forced returns to Afghanistan remains in effect until security, rule of law and the human rights conditions improve enough in the country to allow for safe and dignified returns.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, UNHCR's reception centers in Iran continue to be physically closed for in-person appointments for the time being. A page was created to provide useful and reliable information to individuals seeking support in Iran, including new arrivals.Please refer to UNHCR's help page for official information, including hotline numbers across the country. https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/

The voluntary repatriation program has been suspended on 30 November 2017 due to winter break and will resume on 1 March 2018

PAKISTAN: Lahore, UNHCR Pakistan Representative, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela received Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards 2018 in Lahore from Majeeb-ur-Rehman Shami. UNHCR donated USD 6.2 million for radiotherapy machines for SKMCH Peshawar to support free-of-cost treatment to cancer patients, including Afghan refugees.

In line with the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), and more recently the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), 20 areas have been identified through UNHCR’s protection monitoring and information management activities. The 20 Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARR) have been prioritized based on government planning in the area, including the Citizen’s Charter National Priority Programme, because of the high number of returnees they have absorbed, or because of a range of protection needs the communities may have. In the PARR, 57% of the targeted population are from host communities, many of whom are extremely vulnerable, which helps ensure peaceful co-existence between returnees, IDPs and host communities

Leaders from the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan along with UNHCR and refugee representatives gathered in Geneva to launch a new Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) on 16 December on the margins of the inaugural Global Refugee Forum. The platform seeks to i) enhance international solidarity and burden-sharing for the Afghan situation; ii) galvanize additional investments and expand partnerships for coherent humanitarian and development responses; iii) ensure sustained visibility for the Afghan situation.

In 2019, UNHCR has reached more than 1.2 million people including returnees, IDPs and host communities, directly and indirectly, through its programmes. This includes protection monitoring and support to vulnerable individuals, improved community services and infrastructure, distribution of material assistance like tents and core relief items, cash grants for Afghan refugees coming home, vocational training and livelihoods among other activities.

Encashment Centres in Kabul, Jalalabad and Kandahar will be closed for the winter break from 1 December 2019 – 1 March 2020. The Encashment Centre in Herat will remain open during for this period. The four Encashment Centres are managed by UNHCR and the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), and a range of partners provide returnees with important services such as basic health screening and vaccinations for children (provided by Ministry of Public Health with support of UNICEF), mine risk education and awareness (coordinated by the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Danish Demining Group/Danish Refugee Council), referral for information and legal assistance to obtain civil documentation, referral of persons with specific needs to partners with specialist expertise or government agencies who provide life-saving assistance.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees undertook his 2nd visit to Bangladesh from 1-3 July. He accompanied the first visit of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim. The Executive Director of UNFPA, Natalia Kanem, also accompanied the mission. The World Bank announced $480 million in grant aid for the refugee response.