Operations

626	Number of personnel (international and national)
16	Number of offices
5,345,485	Estimated number of people of concern (PoC)
345.1 Mio. USD	Overall funding requirements (ExCom-approved 2016 budget)

A. Operational Environment and Strategy

The Afghan situation remains the largest protracted situation involving refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, with some 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees hosted in over 70 countries. The vast majority (approximately 95 per cent) of Afghan refugees are hosted in two countries – the Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan.
 
While more than 55,000 Afghan refugees, mostly from Pakistan, have returned in 2015, the situation in Afghanistan is likely to remain challenging in 2016. Afghans continue to seek asylum outside the country, including in Europe. Ongoing instability has also contributed to the rising number of internally displaced people (IDPs), which has reached over 1 million.
 
The Afghan National Unity Government has prioritized the pursuit of durable solutions for its displaced population. Regional coordination between the Governments of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Pakistan has been strengthened through the development of a common approach to finding solutions for Afghan refugees. In 2015 complementary plans have been developed to support the voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of Afghan refugees, as well as to ensure continued protection arrangements for them in the host countries. The regional Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees to Support Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Reintegration and Assistance to Host Countries (SSAR), developed by the Governments of the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan together with UNHCR, remains the main vehicle for furthering these efforts which will require strong support in 2016, in particular by development actors.

B. Response and Implementation
 
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2016 UNHCR will advocate with the Government to enhance protection of refugees in the country and facilitate durable solutions, including collaboration on safeguards related to alternative stay arrangements. The Office will pursue a community-based approach to assist the most vulnerable refugees who may not be currently benefiting from assistance, and to ensure full participation of people of concern in decisions that will affect their lives.
 
In 2016, UNHCR’s strategy for its operations in Pakistan will revolve around three key priorities: 1) durable solutions to resolve the protracted refugee situation; 2) protection and assistance for people of concern; and 3) enhanced partnerships and collaboration to achieve these objectives. Within these broad themes, UNHCR will focus on core activities in support of the Government of Pakistan’s strategy for the management of Afghan refugees being developed under the SSAR, with the overall objective is supporting sustainable return to and reintegration in Afghanistan, while maintaining asylum space in Pakistan.
 
In Pakistan, military operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which started in 2014, are ongoing. There are currently 1.2 million IDPs, although more than 600,000 have returned home since March 2015 when the Government of Pakistan started to implement large-scale return operations in Khyber Agency, South Waziristan and North Waziristan.