Asia and the Pacific

2022 Population planning figures

• Refugees and asylum-seekers in Afghanistan (from Pakistan): 72,000

• Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers: 2.2 million, 26% women and 50% children

• IDPs: 3.8 million, 21% women and 58% children

• Returned IDPs: 150,000

2022 Situation overview

The withdrawal of international troops and establishment of a de facto government in Afghanistan was preceded by a record number of conflict-related casualties in 2021 and a drastic deterioration of the humanitarian situation. By September almost 670,000 Afghans had been internally displaced, adding to some 2.9 million existing IDPs, and thousands had fled into neighbouring countries. Significant numbers of IDPs also returned home. In 2022, UNHCR will step up its response to displacement with protection, core relief items, shelter, cash and other forms of assistance, while continuing to support investments in return and reintegration.

While the situation inside Afghanistan remains fluid, in 2022 UNHCR will lead an inter-agency refugee response plan in the Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan and Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The plan will respond to the needs of in-situ populations and host communities, in line with the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees, as well as preparing for potential outflows. Iran and Pakistan host more than 2.2 million registered refugees from previous waves of displacement, and a further 4 million Afghans of varying statuses. UNHCR aims to support the host governments to include refugees in national services like health, education and social safety nets to improve their resilience and to advance durable solutions.

2022 Population planning figures

• IDPs: 448,000
• Refugees and asylum-seekers: 1.2 million, 26% women and 47% children
• Stateless persons*: 600,000

* Stateless persons figure includes IDPs.

2022 Situation overview

Violence against civilians and the intensified armed conflict following the events of February 2021 caused several thousand refugees to flee into neighbouring countries and displaced over 200,000 people within Myanmar, adding to 370,000 existing IDPs in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, little progress has been made toward comprehensive and regional approaches to solutions for 1.1 million refugees from Myanmar, the vast majority of them Rohingyas from Rakhine state. In Myanmar, UNHCR’s focus in 2022 will remain on responding to the needs of the IDPs and an estimated 600,000 stateless Rohingya, as well as supporting the creation of conditions conducive to return, including by promoting the restoration of the rights of Rohingya and implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. UNHCR will advocate for the rights of, and local solutions for, refugees in protracted situations in Thailand, seeking resettlement and complementary pathways, especially for the most vulnerable.

UNHCR will work with the Government of Bangladesh and partners to meet the needs of almost 900,000 refugees in Bangladesh, including through the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis. Renewed efforts will be made to introduce the Myanmar curriculum for an initial 10,000 refugee students in grades 6-9. Meanwhile, some 103,000 Rohingya in Malaysia and 20,000 in India remain without legal stay and face increasing socioeconomic challenges and fear of arrest and deportation. UNHCR will collaborate with partners to advocate for alternatives to detention and enhanced self-reliance and empowerment through community-based initiatives.