Supporting refugees from Afghanistan and host communities in Pakistan

Context

Pakistan currently hosts around 2.4 million Afghan refugees, over half of whom live in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The economic and social structures in the host communities are overstretched due to the large number of people. This leads to tension between the refugees and the residents of the host communities.

Experiences of violence, trauma, and existential and financial concerns create a situation that can cause fear and stress among the refugees, or even result in depression. Children, young people, women and other disadvantaged groups are particularly affected.

Objective

The Pakistan Government creates gender-sensitive and easily accessible psychosocial support services for Afghan refugees and residents of host communities, and in this way promotes peaceful coexistence.

Approach

The project creates low-threshold psychosocial support services for individuals, families and communities, thus promoting social cohesion between the different groups in the communities. There is a particular focus on services for women and young people.

The approach has three stages:

1. The project trains professionals and laypeople on taking a needs-based approach to addressing the population’s psychosocial needs. This includes government employees, health professionals, staff of non-governmental organisations, and influential community figures.
2. The project creates ‘safe spaces’ and other protected areas where affected persons can meet, talk to each other and take part in recreational activities. Girls and women, in particular, are made aware of certain psychosocial issues, such as domestic and gender-based violence, depression and stress management. To help to increase young people’s resilience, the project shows them how to take control of their own lives and get involved in their communities.
3. The project provides advice on drawing up a position paper on the integration of approaches to mental health and psychosocial support in the services provided by the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and relevant ministries at provincial level.

Last update: July 2023