The lived experience of forced displacement often implies trauma and can lead to an increased prevalence of mental health conditions and challenges to psychosocial well-being. Long ignored, this fact has recently been acknowledged by the international community and led to new research and interventions. In this context, the mental health repercussions of immigration detention on…
Expert Commentary by Dr Nyi Nyi Kyaw and Caitlin McCaffrie Myanmar has long been the primary source of displacement in Southeast Asia, resulting in refugees and people seeking asylum from Myanmar living across Southeast and South Asia, often in precarious circumstances. This paper aims to unpack the current situation facing those displaced from Myanmar and…
In November 2023, the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), with financial assistance from EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), co-hosted an online dialogue session on refugee and stateless children education. The session’s primary aim was to underline the long-term benefits of inclusive education policies for these vulnerable groups, enabling…
Expert Commentary by Dr Asher Hirsch Southeast Asia is a region that hosts a significant number of refugees, yet struggles with providing adequate protection and rights due to various challenges, including a lack of legal frameworks, funding, and regional cooperation. This Expert Commentary focuses on the role donor states, especially those in the Global North,…
In November 2023, the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), with financial assistance from EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), co-hosted a dialogue session on the mental health of refugees – a pressing issue in Southeast Asia. This session emerged against a backdrop of ongoing human rights and humanitarian crises…
Welcome to the October Q4 2023 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please…
The De facto Authorities (DfA) imposed restrictions on women and girls’ education in 2022, banning secondary schooling for girls throughout Afghanistan and suspending tertiary education for women. The decreased access of girls to secondary and tertiary education will not only impact girls and women but the Afghan economy as a whole. Restrictions on female education,…
Over the past 40 years, Afghanistan has gone through multiple phases of migration, with Pakistan and Iran being the primary destination for millions of Afghan refugees and other migrants. Initially, Iran and Pakistan both opened their borders to their neighbours and Muslim brothers and sisters. Afghans have crossed and continue to cross these two borders,…
Dhaka, 15 December 2023 – Protecting Refugees in Asia (PRiA) project partners call for a comprehensive and coordinated regional response to address the recent escalation of irregular maritime movement by Rohingya to Indonesia. Over 2,000 Rohingya have arrived in Indonesia by boat since the beginning of October 2023 and more are expected to arrive in…
At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), in partnership with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), delivered a joint statement during the session entitled ‘The SSAR Support Platform: ‘Showing Resilience, Seeking Solutions’ – High-Level Event at the Global Refugee Forum’. The full written statement is available below, as well…
In the past two years, there has been a precipitous rise in the number of Rohingya refugees making the decision to undertake dangerous land and sea journeys in search of safety and protection. Recent arrivals to Aceh throughout November, who are in urgent need of shelter, nutrition and medical assistance, were initially pushed back to…
Education transforms lives, paving the way to better futures and livelihood opportunities. In times of crisis, including long-term displacement, education can play a life-saving and life-sustaining role. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, refugee and stateless children remain excluded from formal education in public schools and are thus hindered from reaching their full potential. This policy brief is…
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of May 2023, Malaysia hosted an urban refugee population of approximately 181,300, encompassing both registered refugees and asylum seekers. Often, due to the harsh conditions they face, refugees’ mental health comes under stress. Numerous studies have highlighted the psychosocial challenges refugees and asylum seekers…
Regional implications of the Rohingya humanitarian crisis The Rohingya, the world’s largest stateless population, have experienced decades of persecution, systematic discrimination, and targeted violence by successive Myanmar authorities. This humanitarian crisis has resulted in the mass displacement of over 1.6 million Rohingya throughout the wider Asia region, including 952,300 in Bangladesh, 106,100 in Malaysia, 21,600…
On 26 September 2023, the Ministry of the Interior of the Government of Pakistan issued the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. According to the proposed plan, it is intended to “regulate the foreigners in Pakistan and to ensure that the foreigners staying illegally or overstaying their visa validity are deported back to their parent countries.” This…
In October 2023, ADSP Project Manager for the SHARP-Asia project Malini Sivapragasam delivered the NGO Statement for Protection at the UNHCR 74th Executive Committee Meeting on behalf of the global NGO community. The oral statement was the result of wide consultation and engagement with the NGO community through the support of the International Council of…
Welcome to the October Q3 2023 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed the Global Compact on Refugees. The GCR – the culmination of a two-year process of extensive consultations with Member States, international organisations, refugees, civil society, the private sector, and experts – articulated a fresh model of cooperation and joint objectives. The four GCR objectives are: 1.…
This snapshot examines access to information about routes, destinations, costs, and risks among Afghan, Chin, and Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. It presents insights on the sources of information and the means used to obtain information both before and during the journey to Malaysia, information gaps and the implications these gaps have on decision-making. Key findings…
Welcome to the June Q2 2023 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
TODAY is World Refugee Day. This year’s theme, “Hope Away From Home”, resonates deeply with the millions of refugees and displaced persons worldwide, including those in Malaysia, whose hopes and ambitions are often amplified through initiatives and support from within their own communities, including refugee-led organisations (RLOs). The Asia Displacement Solutions Platform’s (ADSP) SHARP-Asia project…
Over 1.6 million Rohingya remain in situations of protracted displacement in Bangladesh and the wider Asia region, including in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Major host countries of Rohingya refugees have resisted accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Concerned about ‘pull factors’ bringing more Rohingya and other refugees to their territories, and…
14 June 2023 – DHAKA, Bangladesh: Almost six years after the mass displacement of Rohingya from Myanmar to Bangladesh, a comprehensive regional response is long overdue. There are 1.6 million Rohingya who have sought safety across Asia, but they live in precarious conditions, without legal status, with limited access to services, and with little hope…
With long-term solutions likely to remain elusive, it’s time to make serious efforts toward improving Rohingya lives in the short term. For around 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar living in Bangladesh, sustainable solutions such as safe and voluntary return to their homeland, large-scale resettlement in third countries, or local integration in Bangladesh will remain…
It is with great pride that I present to you our 2022 Year in Review, a year that has been one of the most productive in our short history. Over the past 12 months, we have made significant strides in our efforts to contribute a distinctive, field-led, perspective to policy and advocacy processes which can…
25 May 2023 – DHAKA, Bangladesh: The arbitrary and indefinite immigration detention of Rohingya is harmful to refugees and their families. As Rohingya flee ongoing persecution in Myanmar and deteriorating security conditions in camps in Bangladesh, punitive immigration detention has not and will not deter them from coming to Malaysia for safety. Immigration detention is expensive,…
25 May 2023 – Dhaka, Bangladesh: Unable to be formally employed in Malaysia due to lack of legal recognition, Rohingya are relegated to living on the margins of society and finding work in the informal economy. This places many Rohingya in situations of financial precarity and at risk of labour exploitation. In a recent joint…
In 2017, a violent security crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State triggered the largest exodus of Rohingya in recent history. At the time, the Malaysian government took a vocal stance against the persecution of the Rohingya, positioning themselves as supportive and sympathetic to their plight. However, as growing numbers of Rohingya have sought irregular means of…
As of November 2022, Malaysia hosted 182,990 refugees and asylum seekers, 106,120 of whom were Rohingya. However, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a legislative framework for refugee protection. Notwithstanding barriers to legal employment, a UNHCR study found…
According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix “Baseline Mobility and Emergency Community-Based Needs Assessment, Round 15” conducted between March and April 2022 close to 5.9 million persons were deemed to be internally displaced in Afghanistan. Almost one-third (31%), were displaced between January 2021 and April 2022. The analysis produced to date in the country shows that…
Under the Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia (PRRiA) project, ADSP has contributed to the MMC led 4Mi Snapshot “Rohingya refugees in Thailand: Profiles, drivers of migration and access to assistance”. The snapshot explores the drivers and profiles of Rohingya refugees migrating to Thailand, as well as the assistance Rohingya require once they arrive there. Building…
Afghanistan is burdened by multiple crises, and there is an urgent need for innovative collective global action. The upcoming Global Refugee Forum in December 2023 is a key opportunity to break the current deadlock. Najeeba Wazefadost and Evan Jones write that a strategic group of 15 donors – the so-called Support Platform for the Solutions…
Despite the reduction in conflict after August 2021, many drivers of displacement in Afghanistan persist or have been exacerbated, leading to Afghans moving in search of protection or remaining in protracted displacement. At the same time, discussions led by the De facto Authorities (DfA) on durable solutions continue to centre on returns. This brief seeks…
Welcome to the March Q1 2023 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
By Dr Sanaa Alimia, Aga Khan University (International), Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations An estimated three to four million Afghans live in Pakistan, mainly in urban areas. These Afghans fall into different legal categories. This paper centres on Afghan registered refugees and undocumented migrants, who form the bulk of the Afghan population in…
By Dr Ceri Oeppen from the Sussex Centre for Migration Research, University of Sussex, UK, and Professor Shahida Aman, Dr Ayub Jan and Professor Abdul Rauf, from the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar The last 40-plus years have demonstrated the limitations of the traditional ‘three durable solutions’ to displacement for Afghans in Pakistan.1…
On 24 February 2023, in response to the ‘Call for Input: Trafficking in persons and protection of refugees, stateless persons and internally displaced persons (IDPs)’ ADSP provided a submission based off the findings of our recent research, expertise, and inputs from members. The findings from the submissions will contribute to the report to the 53th session…
On 7 March 2023, ADSP Manager Evan Jones delivered the NGO Statement for Asia and the Pacific at the UNHCR 86th Standing Committee Meeting on behalf of a wide range of NGO’s. The full statement is below, but can also be found here and here. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S PROGRAMME STANDING COMMITTEE,…
The Bali Process still holds promise for principled regional responses to the movement of refugees and migrants. Last year marked 20 years since the creation of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime. Commendable for its longevity, serious-minded policy dialogue, and capacity building, the Bali Process’ potential as a…
For more than four decades of political instabilities, Myanmar has been a hotbed of internal and regional displacement, with millions of civilians forced to flee their homes. The situation became worse recently. Since the military coup in February 2021, ongoing armed conflict and political instability have sent thousands of displaced civilians to cross borders to…
This toolkit has been developed to offer practical guidance to diaspora actors in different areas: (1) Diaspora Fundraising, (2) Community Outreach (3) Networking and Alliances Building and (4) Advocacy. Diaspora communities, organisations, and individuals are increasingly vocal and influential, advocating for social, economic, and political change in their country of origin, the country of residence…
16 January 2023 – DHAKA, Bangladesh: Without comprehensive regional and national approaches to refugee protection in Southeast Asia, more than 150,000 Rohingya in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia currently rely on a patchwork of policies that offer them limited, if any, protection. A new report supported by the Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia (PRRiA) project, funded…
Welcome to the December Q4 2022 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
This snapshot explores the experience of smuggling among Rohingya refugees en route to Indonesia, with the key objective of contributing to evidence-based advocacy efforts and protection responses for Rohingya refugees. This snapshot draws on data collected between December 2021 and May 2022 from 132 Rohingya refugees in Indonesia. Respondents were surveyed in cities across Sumatra…
Despite the sizeable numbers of refugees from Myanmar within Asia, the overall protection environment remains flimsy. For decades, countries in South and Southeast Asia have been hosting refugee populations originating from within and outside the region. Most of these refugees are from Myanmar and include persons from a number of the country’s ethnic groups such…
The ‘Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia’ project brings together the Danish Refugee Council, the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform, the Mixed Migration Centre, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia, HOST International, and the Geutanyoë Foundation to enhance regional protection responses in support of Rohingya refugees. Through support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO),…
Governments across Asia must immediately undertake coordinated search and rescue operations for the hundreds of Rohingya refugees – including women and children – currently adrift at sea. Bangkok, 23 December 2022: ‘Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia’ (PRRiA) project partners, including the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Geutanyoë Foundation Malaysia, HOST…
As of December 2021, there were an estimated 3.5 million IDPs displaced due to conflict. Whilst displacement due to conflict has decreased since the Taliban de facto authorities assumed power, deepening poverty and a dire humanitarian situation continues to act as push factors for IDPs. To address prolonged internal displacement, the Taliban authorities have been…
This snapshot – a deliverable under the PRRiA project – documents the experience of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, shedding light on protection risks that negatively impact their safety and well-being. This snapshot is one of a series that focuses on Rohingya journeys and experiences in Southeast Asia, with the key objective of contributing to building…
Welcome to the October 2022 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t hesitate…
Welcome to the July 2022 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t hesitate…
This article was originally published in The Diplomat and can be viewed in its original form here. On the world stage, Afghanistan risks becoming a forgotten crisis, despite rising humanitarian needs. But its closest neighbors don’t have the luxury of looking the other way. The economic, humanitarian, and social decline in Afghanistan since the fall…
Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for nearly four decades, with the first wave of refugees arriving in 1979, followed by subsequent influxes in 1992 and 2001. More than 4.4 million Afghans[1] sought refuge in Pakistan between 1979-2001[2], with over 3.2 million refugees in the country at the height of displacement. As a result, Pakistan…
This article was originally published in Oxford’s Forced Migration Review, and is available here. Failure to anticipate drought and to coordinate an effective, recovery-focused response contributed to the protracted displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan. In the face of climate crisis impacts, ensuring preparedness and early action will be key. In 2018…
Pakistan is hosting more than 1.44 million registered Afghans1 who have been forced to flee their homes, primarily due to war, internal conflict, insecurity, and persecution. Most refugees live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, located along the Afghan border2. Of these, 990,947 are registered outside Refugee Villages3 while a further 444,439 are registered inside Refugee…
Welcome to the March 2022 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
On 8 March, ADSP Manager Evan Jones delivered the oral NGO Statement on Asia and the Pacific on behalf of a wide range of NGOs at the 83rd meeting of the UNHCR Standing Committee. The delivered statement is below: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S PROGRAMME STANDING COMMITTEE 83rd MEETING 08-10 MARCH 2022 NGO Statement on Asia…
Intersessional Panel Discussion on the human rights of migrants in vulnerable situations Session 2: Situations of vulnerability arising from the reasons for migration Oral Statement The Asia Displacement Solutions Platform stresses the need for action to address the vulnerable situations of displacement affected persons from Afghanistan and Myanmar. Afghanistan Afghanistan has a long history of displacement,…
Strengthening access to refugee education has an untapped potential to create a generation of youth that can contribute to the development of both Pakistan and their homeland Afghanistan, when the situation improves. Pakistan is home to 1.44 million registered Afghan refugees, and a further 600,000 unregistered Afghan refugees, many of whom have been in the…
Welcome to the December 2021 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
‘Given the tightening of civil society space inside Afghanistan, the role of the diaspora, including refugee-led groups, is even more important.’ SYDNEY and DHAKA Donor support for Afghanistan must include civil society and diaspora groups – or risk eroding local skills and fuelling aid dependency. Without proper support, Afghan-led groups will suffer, and the civil…
November 2021 BANGLADESH: Over the next two years, the project ‘Protecting Rohingya Refugees in Asia (PRRiA) will join forces of the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Geutanyoë Foundation and the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) to enhance regional protection responses in support of Rohingya refugees. Today, the Rohingya population, originating from…
In September 2021, the UK Foreign Affairs Committee launched a call for evidence on a range of topics, in the context of the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan and the subsequent change in the nation’s de facto governing authority. ADSP members submitted evidence to the enquiry to highlight the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, since…
Welcome to the September 2021 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. We hope you find this newsletter informative. For any questions please don’t…
Support to Afghanistan must not end at the gates of the nation’s airport. Evan Jones explains how countries must come together to protect those left behind. Comment: During late August, the eyes of the world were glued to rapidly unfolding political developments in Afghanistan, and subsequent evacuation efforts at Kabul Airport. Over nearly two weeks, more than…
More than four years have passed since Myanmar security forces began “clearance operations” targeting ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State. Purportedly a response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), an ethnic insurgent group, these operations were the culmination of mounting rights abuses and restrictions disproportionately directed at Rohingya communities. More than…
International military forces leave behind a country facing growing insecurity and levels of violence, a faltering economy and multiple humanitarian crises. Buried amongst the dozens of pressing challenges in Afghanistan is an issue that rarely receives the international spotlight: the prevalence of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Often referred to as ‘hidden and…
16 July 2021 Statement: Rising instability necessitates immediate suspension of deportations to Afghanistan Kabul, 16 July 2021: The Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) supports the request made by the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) for the immediate suspension of returns to Afghanistan. With growing insecurity, conflict between state and non-state actors, mounting humanitarian…
Welcome to the June 2021 newsletter from the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform. These newsletters are intended to shine a spotlight on some of the issues being tackled by our members, and the programmatic work done to improve outcomes for persons affected by displacement. In addition, the newsletter provides updates on global or regional processes which…
On 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, deposed Myanmar’s elected government. Alleging widespread fraud in the November 2020 elections, which the Tatmadaw’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party lost to the incumbent National League for Democracy (NLD), Tatmadaw leaders announced a one-year state of emergency. Anti-coup protests and an organised Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)…
The withdrawal of troops marks the end of one of America’s longest military engagements but the social, economic and security situation in the country remains dire. Whilst the international community is focusing upon what a post-US and NATO Afghanistan may look like, Afghans are grappling with the ongoing and acute humanitarian needs within the country.…
The principles of safety and dignity must not only guide the pursuit of durable solutions, but also the return of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. Successful return involves much more than putting people on a plane. Jared Rowell, Afghanistan Country Director for the Danish Refugee Council, and Evan Jones at the Kabul-based Asia Displacement Solutions…
Welcome to 2021 and to our Q1 newsletter. Through this newsletter, you’ll be able to keep up to date with some of the areas of focus of our members, as well as do a ‘deep dive’ into certain programmes, projects and observations. We hope you enjoy. For any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the…
Please see the full statement in English here. Please see the full statement in Thai here. THAILAND: COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT, HUMANITARIAN ACTORS, ASEAN STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL TO MEETING THE PROTECTION AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF REFUGEES FROM MYANMAR 8 April 2021 Renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and armed ethnic groups near…
This article, co-authored by Najeeba Wazefadost and Evan Jones appeared in The New Humanitarian. KABUL, Afghanistan and SYDNEY, Australia COVID-19 is one of the biggest global challenges in modern history, and all nations are grappling with its impacts. But some countries have responded by shutting their doors even further to the world’s most vulnerable. Many…
As part of ADSP’s research into the 2018 drought response, a series of lessons learned and recommendations have been developed. These lessons are designed to inform improved responses in relation future events, in an attempt to mitigate the chances of further protracted displacement. While around 3.5 million people were provided with life-saving emergency assistance in…
In 2018, over 170,000 people were displaced in Afghanistan’s western region after drought conditions adversely affected livelihoods, forcing locals into chronic food insecurity. Assessments conducted by humanitarian NGOs and aid agencies indicated that insufficient access to water and fodder culminated in crop failure and livestock mortality, respectively. The socio-economic demographic of western Afghanistan is typically…
Welcome to the ADSP’s Q4 Newsletter for 2020. In this issue we have contributions from members working in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as colleagues from the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) . Our colleagues at Relief International in Pakistan share the findings from their research in relation to the impacts of noise pollution on Pakistani children’s…
With a documented total of almost 1.2 million refugees originating from Myanmar – overwhelmingly Rohingya – this constitutes the world’s fourth largest refugee group by country of origin in 2018. Rohingya also form the world’s largest stateless population. The distinctive settlement policies for Rohingya across the region, varying from encampment to relatively unconstrained urban settlement,…
The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016, sought to respond to protracted refugee situations by providing additional support to refugee-hosting countries to promote refugee integration. It aimed to further integrate development and humanitarian actors, and to promote a ‘whole of society’ approach, addressing displacement…
Don’t forget to ask Afghan refugees what they really need. 2020 has been a year of extraordinary change, unprecedented challenges and – in some respects – a year of reflection for us all. For the people of Afghanistan, it has once again been all of this and more. From the initiation of peace talks with…
Press Release: Afghanistan Conference must have durable solutionsfor displaced Afghansat its core Kabul, 16 November 2020:From 23-24 November, government ministers and high-level officials from across the world will take part in the 2020 Afghanistan Conference. Held every four years, the Conference presents an important opportunity for the international community to express its commitment to the…
Welcome to the ADSP’s Q3 Newsletter for 2020. In this issue we have contributions from colleagues working in Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Our colleagues at IRC Bangladesh share the findings from their research “No Time to Lose: An Urgent Call for Access to Quality Education for Rohingya Children in Cox’s Bazar.” This report highlights a number…
Please see the original article in full at The New Humanitarian. If the international community is serious about finding lasting solutions, then responsibility sharing is key. Many Afghans displaced outside their country are stuck in a state of perennial limbo, with no prospects for a genuine, safe return on the horizon. Yet the European Union…
The effects of Covid-19 could be catastrophic for countries in Asia which are host to large numbers of displaced people. Before Covid-19, donors recognised the inherent vulnerabilities of displaced populations living in Asia. These vulnerabilities continue. Now is not the time to withdraw from lifesaving activities. To download click on read more.
The Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR) jointly hosted the Afghan Displacement Forum on 5th February 2020, at UN’s Palace 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Kabul event sought to bring together a wide range of organisations and key players interested…
ADSP is pleased to announce the launch of its Action plan for integration: Herat. The Action Plan aims to guide the programming and policy interventions of a range of humanitarian and development partners, to support the early recovery of communities affected by displacement in Herat. Based on a series of indicators relevant to physical, material,…
While durable solutions still remain out of reach for Afghanistan’s internally displaced persons (IDPs), with estimates of 2.2 million IDPs last recorded in 2017, evidence related to durable solutions – and specifically to the return of IDPs – is widely lacking. Research on internal displacement has focused on setting local integration on the policy agenda,…
This study informs programming and policies in relation to refugee returns and, specifically, with regards to their (re)integration within urban areas, with a focus on Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria. While millions of refugees return to poverty, conflict and insecurity in all three settings, a tunnel focus on returns rather than on (re)integration has limited value…
In this issue we have contributions from colleagues working in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and in Myanmar. We explore the effect that extended displacement has had on relationships between the host and displaced Rohingya populations, and the resulting impact on social cohesion in the Cox Bazar area. From Aghanistan we learn about a complex context which has…
During September 2019, a series of consultation workshops were delivered by ADSP in Afghanistan, in close collaboration with the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR). Three workshops were held in three cities (Kabul, Herat and Mazar), aiming to bring together ACBAR members to strengthen awareness on the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)…
This issue of the ADSP newsletter provides an analysis of TVET for durable solutions, an interview with drought-driven displaced person from Badghis in Afghanistan, and analysis of the role that land plays in the ongoing displacement crisis-affected Rakhine State in Myanmar. The issue also outlines ADSP’s expansion to becoming the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP). ADSP_Newsletter_June_2018…
This research examines the challenges that Afghans living in Pakistan face in their access to different services including access to registration documents, legal aid, education, HLP, health services, financial and communication services, livelihoods, and assisted repatriation. The study was conducted by considering different legal statuses, namely Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders, Afghan Citizen Card (ACC)…
This review is the first step in creating a repository for research and a hub for the development, dissemination and transfer of knowledge to relevant actors. It will provide valuable insight to those seeking to promote legislative changes, inform policy development and ensure the appropriateness and effectiveness of interventions in the search for durable solutions…
Read ADSP’s briefing note on ending displacement in Afghanistan, produced for the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, in November 2018. ADSP_Briefing_Nov_18_Final