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, and, displacement has historically been the most common coping strategy for Afghans responding to the effects of recurrent conflicts, and natural and man-made disasters.

At present, Afghanistan is in the midst of the country’s most severe drought in decades. This has resulted in reduced crop yields, availability of food, and drinking water. Estimates suggest that 22.8 million Afghans are facing life-threatening levels of hunger, with nearly 9 million people to face famine-like conditions in the months ahead.

In August 2021, donors suspended most non-humanitarian funding to Afghanistan. This freeze of billions of USD has sent Afghanistan’s economy into freefall. Health services have closed and livelihood opportunities have disappeared. It’s predicted that 97% of the population may fall below the poverty line by mid-2022 – with women and girls likely to be disproportionally affected.

Between January 2021 and February 2022, it is estimated that more than 600,000 Afghans have migrated to neighbouring countries and a further 720,000 were internally displaced. In Iran, borders remain officially closed to Afghan refugees, thereby increasing the need for and use of smugglers – often through risky routes to avoid detection.

Covid-19 has compounded the challenges resultant from each of these issues.

Myanmar

Key reasons behind the movement of Rohingya to Bangladesh and other countries in the region remain.

Lack of legal status, discrimination, dispossession of land, and other human rights abuses continue to impact Rohingya communities in Rakhine State. Moreover, the economic and political fallout from the 2021 military seizure of power have led to a significant deterioration in access to livelihoods, food security, and safety. To survive, Rohingya and other communities have resorted to untenable levels of debt and other negative coping mechanisms.

In Myanmar’s Southeast, fighting continues to displace thousands of people. More than 224,000 have been displaced since the coup, with humanitarian observers documenting arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and other rights violations.

ADSP requests:

1. The de facto authorities in both Afghanistan and Myanmar to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons inside their borders, without discrimination.

2. Donors should fund the Afghanistan humanitarian appeal in full to prevent a major displacement crisis within and from the region.

3. Donors should share responsibility and support neighbouring countries to better meet the needs of existing refugee populations, and fulfil refugee rights in those countries.

4. Donor and refugee hosting states should engage in dialogue with international and national civil society organisations, refugee representatives, and UNHCR to work together to chart a path forward to ensure protection-centred regional responses.