Another world day to be commemorated has arrived. When it comes to world days, the first country that can be associated with them is Afghanistan. Today is June 20, 2023, the World Refugee Day 2023 and Afghanistan is among top 5 countries facing refugees’ crisis.
? By Mohsen Shahrafiee
What is World Refugee Day
world refugee day is an international day created by the United Nations to honor refugees around the world. This day on 20 June is to value the strength and courage of people who have been forced to leave their home country to escape conflict, human rights violation, etc.
World Refugee Day 2023
The theme of World Refugee Day 2023 is “Hope away from home”. It seems that the UN has aimed to draw world’s attention to how desperate refugees far from home are.
Hope has turned into a far-fetched dream for hopeless Afghans. So this is a high responsibility for the UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) to take an action instead of announcing anniversaries and slogans. They say “actions speak louder than words.”
Afghans taking Refugees
As the Taliban took over Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans desperately fled their homes, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Many of these refugees are women and children who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 550,000 people have been displaced within Afghanistan since the start of the year, while another 270,000 have fled to neighboring countries. Pakistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has received the largest number of refugees, followed by Iran and Tajikistan.
World Refugee Day 2023 and statistics
According to UNHCR’s statistics, more than half of all refugees in need of international protection, come from just three countries: Syria with 6.8 million refugees, Ukraine with 5.7 million, and Afghanistan with 5.7 million ones.
Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees, with 3.6 million people, followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran with 3.4 million, then Colombia with 2.5 million, followed by Germany and Pakistan with 2.1 and 1.7 million refugees respectively.
These statistics are not just numbers, they are warnings about a need for consideration. Afghan refugees and others must not be left alone and international community is responsible for this dire situation.
Reasons for Afghanistan’s refugee crisis
There are some reasons that can be mentioned as the main causes for such a crisis in Afghanistan, but the most important ones are: war, food insecurity, devastated economy and violation of human rights. But As far as I am concerned, The United States with its greed for power, is one of the main factor that caused such a crisis to happen.
Afghan people must bee so desperate that they prefer to leave home without having any perspective of what is awaiting them in target countries.
On World Refugee Day 2023, who is supposed to help
First of all, countries specifically the U.S that is responsible for this crisis in Afghanistan must be taken to the court of law. Displacement is also a war crime. Sending people away from their home is a war crime.
The international community has also a responsibility to support these refugees and ensure their safety and well-being. The UNHCR has called for urgent assistance from the international community to provide humanitarian aid and protection to Afghan refugees. Donor countries must step up their efforts to provide funding and resources to support the humanitarian response.
In addition to providing immediate assistance, efforts must also be made to address the root causes of the refugee crisis. This includes addressing the political instability and insecurity in Afghanistan, as well as addressing the economic and social factors that contribute to displacement.
Ultimately, the fate of Afghan refugees depends on the actions of governments and the international community. It is crucial that we come together to support these vulnerable individuals and ensure that their rights and dignity are protected.
As the crisis in Afghanistan continues, it is clear that urgent action is needed to support those affected by the current situation. Governments and international organizations must work together to provide the necessary resources and support to aid agencies, while also addressing the underlying causes of the crisis.
Only then can we hope to provide a brighter future for the millions of Afghans who have been forced to flee their homes.
Mohsen Shahrafiee, Analyst
