Afghanistan is facing a ‘displacement crisis’ as the number of civilians trapped inside their own country dramatically doubled over the past three years, a new report by Amnesty International revealed this week.
Afghans already form one of the world’s largest refugee populations, behind only Syrians, with an estimated 2.6 million citizens living beyond the country’s border.
The latest published report finds that there are also a staggering 1.2 million people ‘internally displaced’ in Afghanistan today, a dramatic increase from some 500,000 in 2013.
Recent years have seen an escalation in violence in the country, as international troops – including UK forces – have left, and the Afghan security forces have fought for control against anti-government groups like the Taliban.
These changes have led to large-scaled displacement across the country with people fleeing the intensifying conflict, as the Taliban continues to grow.
Helmand province, said to be the most dangerous in the country, was where the majority of British troops were stationed throughout the 13-year US-led invasion and occupation of the country. 449 British military personnel died in the province during the war.
Since Afghan forces took over the battle against the Taliban, they have been steadily losing ground in Helmand, and as the conflict has escalated, more civilians have fled in search of safety.
There have also been growing reports of fighters claiming allegiance to the Islamic State armed group over the past two years. In the eastern province of Nangarhar groups apparently affiliated to Daesh have engaged in clashes with both pro- and anti-government forces in 2015, leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians.
Champa Patel, South Asia Director at Amnesty International, said: “While the world’s attention seems to have moved on from Afghanistan, we risk forgetting the plight of those left behind by the conflict.
“Even after fleeing their homes to seek safety, increasing numbers of Afghans are languishing in appalling conditions in their own country, and fighting for their survival with no end in sight.
“All parties that have been involved in Afghanistan over the past 15 years have a responsibility to come together and make sure that the very people the international community set out to help are not abandoned.
“Afghanistan and the world must act now to end the country’s displacement crisis, before it is too late.”
Amnesty’s research found that, despite the promises made by successive Afghan governments, displaced people in Afghanistan lack adequate health care, shelter, food, water and opportunities to pursue education and employment, with most living in dismal conditions.
Mastan, a 50-yearold woman living in a camp in Herat, told the charity: “Even an animal would not live in this hut, but we have to.
“I would prefer to be in prison rather than in this place, at least in prison I would not have to worry about food and shelter.”
