Afghanistan Outflow Appeal
Humanitarian Action for Children
UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children appeal helps support the agency’s work as it
provides conflict- and disaster-affected children with access to water, sanitation, nutrition,
education, health and protection services. Return to main appeal page.
Afghanistan Outflow snapshot
Appeal highlights
- The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in 2021 has led to increased cross-border movement of Afghans seeking protection and asylum in neighboring countries of Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Taking the new influxes, previous refugee caseloads, Afghans of other statuses and host communities into account, 3.5 million people are potentially in need of humanitarian assistance, including 1.6 million children.
- UNICEF will work with relevant government authorities and implementing partners to ensure preparedness and priority life-saving health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and child protection, including gender-based violence risk mitigation services, to 3 million people, including 1.2 million children.
- UNICEF is appealing for US$81.2 million to meet the needs of Afghan children and their families and support affected host communities. Without timely and adequate funding, UNICEF will be unable to take needed action for preventing the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Key planned results for 2022
1.2 million people accessing a sufficient quantity of safe water
336,019 children / caregivers accessing mental health and psychosocial support
301,581 women and children accessing gender-based violence mitigation, prevention, response
788,728 children accessing educational services
Funding requirements for 2022
Country needs and strategy
Humanitarian needs
The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in 2021 has led to increased cross-border movement of Afghans seeking protection and asylum in neighbouring countries of Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In 2022, for Central Asia this could result in up to 70,000 people requiring humanitarian support in the border countries of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – that already host over 25,000 Afghans. All three countries are already fragile, highly prone to natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, landslides), that pose significant risks to survival and well-being of children. The COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on the economy and social services, particularly health systems which remain overstretched, including by other disease outbreaks, like the Polio outbreak in Tajikistan. An influx would exacerbate vulnerabilities and stretch government capacities in host countries, compounding already-present COVID-19 related and humanitarian needs from 2021, including high malnutrition rates, inadequate access to water and hygiene, disruptions to learning and heightened protection risks. An estimated 500,000 Afghans could seek asylum in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2022, adding to the almost 3 million Afghans already living there. New arrivals are likely to face dire needs, particularly in health, nutrition and protection sectors. Critical life-saving humanitarian assistance will be required in camp and host community settings in coordination with government counterparts. A significant influx could place pressure on the country’s basic services and infrastructure, already reeling from the socioeconomic impact of unilateral sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for more than 40 years. Currently there are 2.8 million Afghans, including 1.4 million registered refugees, 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACCs) holders, and 500,000 undocumented Afghans. Potential new arrivals would further increase pressures on national resources. The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hosting the majority of the existing Afghan refugees, already have the highest multi-dimensional poverty levels. WASH needs remain acute in refugee villages and host communities due to limited functionality of water systems, and poor sanitation and waste management systems. With high levels of food insecurity and acute malnutrition in Afghanistan along with multiple disease outbreaks, the health and nutrition needs of the newly arriving Afghans remain high. Violence against children and gender-based violence are largely under-reported, and access to justice for refugee girls and women is often impeded by the lack of family/community support. Child marriage and child labour are prevalent and limited access to education remains critical, disproportionately affecting girls. Limited services for children with specific needs, mental health and psychosocial support, also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have been highlighted by the communities, with over 50 per cent of children with specific needs having no access to schooling.
UNICEF’s strategy
UNICEF will work with relevant government authorities, UNHCR, other United Nations agencies, and civil society organizations to ensure rights of Afghan children and families on the move are protected. UNICEF will invest in preparedness measures including pre-positioning of supplies, and strengthening national reception, screening, registration and humanitarian response systems and capacities to address needs of vulnerable people, including those with disabilities. Upon a significant influx, guided by the Core Commitments of Children, UNICEF will provide life-saving health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and child protection, including gender-based violence risk mitigation services. To address health needs of existing Afghan populations, new influxes and host communities in need, UNICEF will support primary health care services, routine immunization (including measles and polio), and promotion of health-seeking behaviors. Children with severe acute malnutrition will be treated through Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approaches. Preventive measures including promotion of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and micronutrient support for children under 5 years of age and pregnant and lactating women will be prioritized. Children's access to education, including early learning, will be promoted through available structures or the establishment of temporary or community based-learning spaces, along with provision of teaching and learning materials. School Management Committees (SMCs) will be trained on enrollment and retention of children in schools. Schools would be protected as safe spaces, also providing psychosocial support and emotional/physical security. To enable the provision of safe water, supplies for storage and treatment will be pre-positioned with installation/rehabilitation of water supply systems. UNICEF and partners will undertake solid waste management and disposal to reduce the risk of communicable diseases and install gender-sensitive latrines; while ensuring hygiene promotion, along with distribution of non-food items for hygiene and sanitation purposes. Access to protection services, including mental health and psychosocial support, appropriate care and guardianship for unaccompanied and separated children, will be prioritized. UNICEF will strengthen provincial and community child protection systems, supporting front-line and social workers to identify and mitigate risks, providing coordinated services to children at risk and survivors of violence abuse, neglect and exploitation, while promoting the inclusion of Afghan children in these systems. UNICEF will continue to advocate for the humanitarian support for people on the move to continue, remain high on national agendas and where possible integrated in national priorities. Promotion of social inclusion and integration through access to social services and longer-term solutions for migrants and host communities will also be prioritized. UNICEF will also prioritize protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, adolescent participation and the provision of age-, gender- and disability- appropriate services. As per Grand Bargain10 commitments, UNICEF will ensure accountability to affected populations and localization of interventions through key national partnerships. Where applicable, UNICEF will support operations outposts at border areas to facilitate preparedness and response. In line with the 2022 Afghan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan, UNICEF will provide leadership in child protection, education, nutrition, and WASH sectors.
Programme targets
Find out more about UNICEF's work
Highlights
Humanitarian Action is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate to realize the rights of every child. This edition of Humanitarian Action for Children – UNICEF’s annual humanitarian fundraising appeal – describes the ongoing crises affecting children flowing out of Afghanistan; the strategies that we are using to respond to these situations; and the donor support that is essential in this response.
