Refugees+in+Afghanistan+(Period+1)

===Introduction: What is a Refugee? ===  A refugee is somebody who has been displaced from their home for economic, political, and social reasons. War, [|religious persecution], and [|famine] are three of many reasons why refugees seek refuge. Sometimes refugees are not able to return to their country because his or her government will not protect them. Although everybody is entitled to have their human rights, refugees are often exposed to human rights abuses. The country where the refugee escaped to, usually protects refugees against prejudice/discrimination and religious persecution. They give them work rights, education/relief, and housing. The definition of a refugee is often confused with the definition of an [|Internally Displaced Person (IDP)]. A refugee leaves the country whereas the IDP flees to a different part of the country. Different refugees make different decisions that concern their future. Some choose to stay in the country they seek refuge in. Depending on the country, it is possible that they may stay if the country allows them citizenship. If the country is underdeveloped then it is likely that the refugee will not be able to become a citizen. Some refugees wish to go back to his or her country, but only when things calm down. It may take many years for things to stabilize back home.


 * Refugees in Afghanistan:**

Afghanistan was in a civil war for more then 20 years. During this time there was a massive human rights abuse. This abuse began the a civil war, that forced millio ns of men, women, and children to leave their homes. In 1979, the Soviet Union  invaded and, as a result, displaced a lot of families. There was a lot of conflic t between the Soviets, the [|Mujahideen], and other Afghan militant groups. During the conflict, the United States supplied the Mujahideen or according to Ronald Reagan “freedom fighters” with weapons and s upplies in effort to aid them to defeat the Soviets. After the Soviets were defeated, the remaining war lords in the co untry fough t each other in attempt to gain control over the country. Thus, more Afghan civilians were forced to leave their country to save their children and their families. 

most of the refugees fled to the surrounding countries, but some did traveled to Europe and north America 3 million Afghan refugees were settled in Pakistan and about two million in Iran. Many of them also fled to the European Union, North America, Australia, India, Turkey, and other parts of the world.



__ Article 14 of Declaration of Human Rights __  Everyone has the right to look for refuge in other countries without being persecuted. This right is not given in cases where the refugee’s country of origin is committing non-political crimes; nor is this right given to refugees who seek refuge only because of a particular decision made by the United Nations.

 ** Pakistan: **   ** In Pakistan, Afghans have continued to be at risk of violence. ** ** armed groups who are active in the border areas and who have times been in effective control of the refugee campsAfghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran have endured hardship and deprivation as they have struggled to meet their basic living needs.Most of the approximately one million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan are located in the border areas of North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan. An Estimated 950,000 are housed in refugee settlements, the rest in towns and villages. Direct food assistance to refugees was stopped in 1995. After ** ** an assessment by UNHCR and the World Food Program (WFP) that the population was in a position to achieve self-sufficiency. **

 


 * IRAN:**

 The government of Iran was complained that has supported a huge refugee population largely without international assistance.Since 1992, there have been very few permanent residence permits granted to Afghan refugees in Iran. In July 1997, the authorities announced the changing of identity cards for all foreigners with a warning that all those found to be staying illegally would be expelled from the country.During 1998, there were reports of thousands of Afghans being forcibly returned to Afghanistan from Iran. Afghans without valid visas or residency permits appear to be most at risk of being rounded up by the security forces, but even those with valid identity cards fear being expelled from the country.In May 1999, an international refugee aid conference was held I Tehran to discuss refugee issues.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> The IRC, also known as the International Rescue Committee, has played a role in assisting refugees from all around the globe, particularly Afghans. As a result of the United States’ declaration of war on Afghanistan. the IRC has reached out to the Hazara ethnic group in particular because they are the most “underserved.” The International Rescue Committee has helped Afghans located in different parts of Pakistan. One place that is populated with Afghan refugees is Peshawar. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
 * IRC (International Rescue Committee) **

Key Facts: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> -Source: Human Rights Watch: Afghanistan - Key Facts About Refugees
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">As of the third week of September there were close to one million Afghans who were displaced inside their own country. These people and all Afghans are suffering from the lack of humanitarian assistance to the country and are facing dire famine conditions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">Some 3.7 million Afghan refugees who have fled the conflict in Afghanistan over the past two decades are currently living in neighboring countries - 1.5 million of them in Iran, and more than 2 million in Pakistan.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">As of the third week of September all neighboring countries have closed their borders with Afghanistan.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">In addition, some 10,000-20,000 people are waiting to be able to seek protection assistance by crossing Pakistan's border near Chaman. About half of these people are waiting at the border without any shelter.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">Since the Tajik government closed its borders a year ago and stationed 10,000 Russian troops at the border to prevent refugees from entering, an estimated 10,000 Afghan refugees, including thousands of women and children, have been camped on several island sin the Pyanj River at the Tajikistan border.