2023 Additional Allocation to UNHCR’s Operations in Afghanistan

Project completed

29.2 mio Afghans - over 70 % of the country’s population - are in need of humanitarian assistance. 15.3 mio Afghans are acutely food insecure. The United Nations Refugee Agency is active in all provinces in Afghanistan and is helping to ease the immediate needs of communities, returnees, Internally Displaced Persons, Afghan refugees returning from neighbouring countries on food, non-food items / shelter, health and water / sanitation / hygiene equipment. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Afghanistan
Migration
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023
CHF  465’000
Background In addition to the severe food insecurity in Afghanistan, several earthquakes of up to 6.3 magnitude stroke the Herat Province in October 2023 killing more than 1’500 people and destroying entire villages. Pakistan issued a law to return undocumented Afghan Refugees to Afghanistan. Over 450’000 Afghan Refugees have so far returned from Pakistan with nowhere to go and little possession. The situation is expected to aggravate during winter. 
Objectives To provide lifesaving assistance and ease the immediate needs of communities, Internally Displaced Persons, returnees and returning Afghan Refugees from Pakistan and Iran.
Target groups Refugees, returnees, Internally Displaced Persons, local communities
Medium-term outcomes To address returnees’, Internally Displaced Persons, returning Afghan Refugees and communities immediate needs and mitigate protection risks. 
Results

Expected results:   Refugees, returnees and IDPs and local (host) communities at heightened risk can meet their basic needs within six months of displacement. 


Results from previous phases:   United Nations Refugee Agency and partners reached an estimated 836’800 individuals with emergency assistance countrywide as of end-October 2023. Of the total reached, 277’600 were supported with cash assistance while 346’300 were reached with in-kind and other individual assistance. 604’000 individuals were also assessed while 245’200 potentially benefited from activities in the Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs). Other assistance ranged from protection, core relief items as well as shelter and seasonal support.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees


Coordination with other projects and actors United Nations Refugee Agency cultivates and expands partnerships with other United Nations agencies, International and local non -  governmental organisations as well as civil society. United Nations Refugee Agency works closely with donors and development agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to advance protection and solutions for returnees and displaced communities. United Nations Refugee Agency runs several projects also under the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    465’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    465’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    244’150’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   1’000’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)