UNHCR Iran: Protection Concerns Among Afghan Refugees - Helpline & Field Insights #2 | Shifting trends since the ceasefire

Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. 2. SITUATION OVERVIEW Following the escalation of hostilities in Iran in late February 2026 and a subsequent ceasefire brokered on 7–8 April, the protection environment for Afghan refugees in Iran has evolved, with concerns remaining acute, though their nature has shifted. In March 2026, helpline callers’ primary concerns were largely driven by conflict-related issues, including safety and security amid airstrikes, shelter damage in high-risk areas, and immediate basic needs resulting from temporary relocation and displacement. Since the easing of hostilities from 8 April, these concerns remain significant; however, they are increasingly accompanied by broader socioeconomic and legal challenges. Afghan refugees continue to report acute economic hardship, difficulties renewing documentation, and barriers to accessing essential services as key and growing areas of concerns. Basic needs – particularly cash for food, rent and medical care - were the most frequently reported concerns, alongside urgent issues related to legal status, driven by new documentation requirements and the high cost of health insurance and documentation renewal fees. By early May, callers described overlapping protection challenges, with economic hardship and legal insecurity at the forefront, with conflict-related risks persisting but less prominent compared to rising costs, access barriers and ongoing psychosocial strain.

Original source: Relief Web