Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported that 158,392 families in 26 provinces have been displaced in the first three months of this year as an intensifying war continues to force people to flee their homes and villages. According to the report, an estimated 938,000 people were displaced.
Nangarhar stands on the top of the list with 22,790 displaced families while Urozgan with 100 displaced families stands at the bottom.
As many as 2,903 IDPs from 19 provinces were interviewed, with 55.1 percent of them were men and 44.9 women, for this report, AHRC said.
The AIHRC, citing statistics from the State Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs, said that nearly five million people across the country were displaced in the past two years due to insecurity and violence by opposition groups. The figure has increased by 74.8 percent compared to 2015. Of these, in the last six months alone, 62,480 families and in just one month, 32,284 families in 25 provinces have been displaced due to increased war and violence.
According to AIHRC findings, war and armed violence (68.1 percent), opposition warnings to locals (12 percent), lack of job opportunities (7.3 percent), poverty (5.2 percent), lack of schools and hospitals (2.4 percent), natural disasters (2 percent), personal animosity (1.5 percent), and lack of educational facilities (1.1 percent) are some of the reasons for IDPs.
83.3 percent of those interviewed were harmed by antigovernment oppositions (83.3 percent), pro-government forces (9.4 percent), and natural disasters (7.3 percent) before getting displaced, the report added.
The report’s findings show that 77.6 percent of IDPs do not have security in their current place of residence which has increased by 10.6 percent compared to 2015. 22.4 percent of those interviewed said they were safe at their new place of residence.
89.8 percent of the interviewees said they were provided with shelters in their new place of residence while another 10.2 percent said they did not have access to shelter. Also, 65.3 percent of the interviewees said they do not have access to health services. In contrast, 34.7 percent said they don’t get access to health services, and 34 percent of the interviewees said that they do not have access to safe and clean drinking water.
52.2 percent of IDPs said they are unable to attend schools and universities and 84.9 percent said they face difficulties in finding jobs in their new residential places, AIHRC reported.
On the other hand, 54.7 percent of interviewees said that they have benefited from governmental and non-governmental aids, while another 45.3 percent said they have not yet received any aid so far.
The AIHRC called on the Afghan government, the Taliban, and the international community to work together to support and strengthen the justice-oriented peace process, the establishment of a ceasefire, and an end to war and violence.
The Commission called on the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, the Ministry of State for Disaster Management and other stakeholders to take urgent measures to provide temporary accommodation and basic needs for IDPs.
The Commission has further called on active national and international institutions to work on developing programs and establishing or strengthening the structures needed to provide IDPs with access to housing, education, health, social participation and psychosocial support.
