Publication

15 January 2020

A different kind of pressure: The cumulative effects of displacement and return in Afghanistan

A different kind of pressure: The cumulative effects of displacement and return in Afghanistan

Displacement in Afghanistan is both a historical and contemporary phenomenon. One in four Afghans have been displaced, and conflict triggered 372,000 new internal displacements in 2018. Attempted peace talks have failed to prevent civilian casualties reaching unprecedented levels. Despite this bleak picture, however, more than 3.3 million Afghans have returned from abroad since 2012.

This study, based on a non-representative survey with 120 displaced Afghans in Kabul, Herat and Nangarhar provinces, examines the drivers of displacement within and across borders, and explores obstacles and
opportunities in terms of durable solutions for internally displaced people (IDPs) and returnees from abroad.