Pakistan is among the largest refugee-hosting countries globally, showing remarkable generosity for over 40 years to those in search of safety. As a result of previous waves of displacement, second and third generation of Afghans are living in protracted displacement, with Pakistan providing refuge to some 1.35 million registered Afghan women, children and men. The Government of Pakistan estimates a further 600,000 have sought refuge since the events of 2021 in neighbouring Afghanistan.
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On 3 October 2023, Pakistan’s national Apex Committee endorsed a plan to repatriate over a million foreigners without valid documents, largely Afghans. Announcing the plan, Pakistan’s Minister of Interior said that an ultimatum has been issued to illegal foreigners residing in Pakistan, requiring them to leave the country by 1 November 2023.
The overall situation inside Afghanistan deteriorated in 2021 and has had significant consequences for the most vulnerable among the population. Some 3.25 million people are currently internally displaced by conflict, over 1 million IDPs have returned to their places of origin, and at least 1.6 million new arrivals have been witnessed in neighbouring countries. UNHCR is responding to this emergency, with needs outlined in a regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) and Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Iran and Pakistan, which are neighbours of Afghanistan, also host some 5.5 million Afghan refugees and Afghans in a refugee-like situation.
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Latest updates
Populations
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
NB: 2023 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financials
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by pillar
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Narratives
Map
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
UNHCR GIS data is publicly accessible in the Operational Data Portal