In the 21st century, climate change is becoming one of the greatest threats to human lives. Every year thousands of people are forced out of their homes due to the devastating effects of the changing environment. Not just including extreme weather, climate change can also include damaged ecosystems, environmental challenges, and rising sea levels all of which impacts the daily lives of people and force massive displacement on a global scale. Since 1985 the UN Environment Program (UNEP) as given the title of “climate refugees” to those who are “Forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of marked environmental disruption” (Zurich 2022). Climate change does not only affect people and infrastructure but also threatens to destabilize societies and economies. Focusing on a nation that has felt the greatest effect of climate change; Afghanistan is a nation that showcases how damaging climate change can be to a country and its inhabitants.
Up until the middle of the twentieth century, Afghanistan held a self-sufficient way of life and was not greatly affected by industrialism taking part in other parts of the world. However, gradually changes started to occur in natural habitats and ecosystems. It was not until the last quarter of the twentieth century, when war broke out in 1797, that the use of uncontrolled and unlimited use of natural resources become a serious threat. This resulted in an uncontrollable environmental crisis, causing scarcity, and this was never properly addressed by government officials. The lack of information regarding Afghanistan’s environment like air quality or farmlands means that there are few organizations and agencies that can help alleviate this (Saba 2009).
Migration in Afghanistan mainly stemmed from the Soviet invasion in 1979, where the first big migration occurred after the invasion. Most refugees migrated to Iran and Pakistan. After the Soviets withdraw in 1990, some refugees tried to return but Mujahedeen warlords gained power and civil war erupted. After that in 1995, the Taliban gained power. During this time Afghanistan suffered a severe drought which it had not experienced before. The Taliban and Al-Qaida lost power in 2001when the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) coalition forces came in and defeated them, which caused the second wave of migration. During this time the country was facing conflict throughout it including “land action, inflight action, and the indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), triggering extremely dangerous levels of psychological and physical harm” (Privara & Privarova 2019). Privara and Privarova continue by stating that more organized violations of international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) continue in the state like targeted killings, child labor, and targeted attacks on hospitals and school. According to a 2019 estimate over 25,000 Afghans will need emergency medical treatment resulting from the conflict and approximately 1.8 million people live within one kilometer of an explosive hazard. These unknown hazards have created abrupt and long-lasting consequences for the population. In 2018 over 550,000 Afghans had to leave their homes due to extreme weather like droughts due to conflict. One of the main effects of climate change and an unstable government is Afghans access to basic services like health and education. It is refugees and displaced people who are majority marginalized due to not having sufficient legal documents. 2/3 of provinces are above the global acute malnutrition crisis threshold and 1/3 of children are not immunized, this is most prevalent in rural areas. There is also a great discrepancy between men and women as 3/4 of women live in rural areas, greatly affecting their health the most.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stresses that it hopes all parties can come together to protect communities and the environment. They encourage parties to focus climate emergency to the most vulnerable communities and to support vulnerable countries to scale up their prevention and preparedness measures to minimize displacement. Currently the UNHCR is providing protection and assistance to refugees and displaced people and well as helping them become more resilient in the future. They continue by stressing that climate change acts as a catalysis for increasing displacement, worsening living conditions, or preventing those who have been displaced from returning home. More than 20 million people leave their homes each year do due hazards weather like heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, environmental degradation, and cyclones. In the process of relocating, many people are forced to cross borders and need international protection, making refugee and human rights laws critical.
During the 2018 UN General Assembly, the Global Compact on Refugees addressed the concern and recognizes that “Climate, environmental degradation and disasters increasingly interact with the drivers of refugee movements”. Andrew Harper serves as the Special Advisor on Climate Action. He acts as the UNHCR’s global advocate who provides insight and expertise to their climate action agenda. The climate action focuses on three main areas, law and policy, operations, and UNHCR’s environmental footprint. Law and policy aim to increase protection for refugees and displaced people using legal advice, guidance, and support. The promote to bring climate change and those who are affected to the international discussions. UNHCR’s operations involve preparing and anticipating for future emergencies stemming from climate-related and natural hazards. By making people more resilient and prepared, the hope to decrease the amount of displaced people. UNHCR created the Refugee Environmental Protection Fund, which focuses on “impactful reforestation and clean cooking programs in climate-vulnerable refugee situations around the world” (UNHCR 2022). In their operational responses they incorporate climate and environmental concerns. In their 2022-2025 Operational Strategy for Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability, UNHCR states that they are procuring and delivering core relief items. Through decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions and therefore helping the environment the UNHCR’s environmental footprint plays an important role in disaster relief.
The UNHCR has partnered with the Global Protection Cluster in protecting refugees and displaced people. When needed they send out emergency teams to mitigate hazards through helping with family reunifications, provision shelter, and hygiene and nutrition. The global policy process participation as played an intrinsic role in allowing UNHCR to advocate the need to consider refugees and displaced people when having conversations of global warming. UNHCR is also a standing invitee of the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD). PDD is a State-led initiative that supports spreading awareness of the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability. In addition, they partner and collaborate with IOM, UNDRR, UNFCCC, WMO, and UNDP (UNHCR 2022).
In their article, “UN refugee agency warns of extreme hardship for forcibly displaced families this winter”, UNHCR documents the upcoming conditions that many Afghan refugees we'll be facing. Not only Afghan refugees but also Ukrainian and other Middle Eastern refugees could be facing freezing temperatures due to extreme weather linked to climate change. The UN Refugee Agency warns people that this winter could be exceptionally challenging. Many families we'll have to make the hard decision between food and warmth as they struggle to find adequate care like shelter, clothing, and hot meals. In Afghanistan winters can easily drop two - 25 degrees Celsius in certain parts of the country, refugees and displaced people will be left to the elements. Afghanistan is already in a fragile position as it steeps into economic decline. This past June it experienced an earthquake in southeastern Paktika and Khost province, where thousands of people lost or had their homes damaged. Afghanistan is also facing flash flooding and drought as it damages property and livelihood in certain regions. Despite Afghanistan being one of the highest countries for refugees and displaced people it struggles to obtain the saving programs and assistance it needs. The UNHCR has been forced to decrease activity for essential programs in many countries. However, they have created a global winter fundraising campaign to aid displaced families obtain supplies and help they will need during the coldest months. Funding will provide winter clothing, thermal blankets, heating, home repairs, and more.
The actions taking place to help Afghan refugees and displaced people are lacking. Afghanistan is a country that faces both extreme environmental pressures and internal government pressures. During my research I found several sources thought support climate refugees and educate the public on the crisis of climate change but found very few sources documenting Afghan refugees and displaced people in particular. This seems odd as Afghan refugees make up one of the largest subsets of refugees. The actions of UNHCR do help refugees some being Afghan, but their programs do not specifically target Afghan refugees. Refugees from Afghanistan have specific needs that need to be met. The UNHCR is doing a good job in distributing the necessary materials and aid to refugees on the ground like providing clothing and blankets during the colder months. In helping to resolve the problem, Afghan refugees affected by climate change as a topic should be pushed on lawmakers and government officials during conferences, as laws will create a more long-lasting effect that can be felt by a greater number of Afghan refugees. Creating a narrative around climate change refugees it's imperative as climate change is only worsening and intern creating more refugees.
Bibliography
Přívara, Andrej, and Magdaléna Přívarová. “Nexus between Climate Change, Displacement and Conflict: Afghanistan Case.” Sustainability, vol. 11, no. 20, Oct. 2019, p. 5586. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205586.
Saba, D. S. (2009). Afghanistan: Environmental degradation in a fragile ecological setting. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 279–288.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). Climate change and disaster displacement. UNHCR. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.unhcr.org/climate-change-and-disasters.html
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). Un refugee agency warns of extreme hardship for forcibly displaced families this winter. UNHCR. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/briefing/2022/11/636e125c6/un-refugee-agency-warns-extreme-hardship-forcibly-displaced-families-winter.html
Zurich.com. (2022, September 7). There could be 1.2 billion climate refugees by 2050. Here’s what you need to know. Zurich.com. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.zurich.com/en/media/magazine/2022/there-could-be-1-2-billion-climate-refugees-by-2050-here-s-what-you-need-to-know
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