Afghan civilians are caught in the middle of an intensifying military campaign against a fractured armed insurgency. Despite the U.S. military s claims of progress, insurgent attacks are up by 50% over last year, and more than 250,000 people have fled their villages in the past two years. U.S. funded and trained militias are only exacerbating this explosive situation. As the U.S. begins to draw down its forces and transition responsibilities to the Afghan government, the Obama administration must mitigate further displacement and ensure that the Afghan government takes greater responsibility for the protection of displaced people. In addition, the UN must strengthen its capacity to respond to the growing humanitarian needs.

Life in Tajikistan, although fairly stable and calm compared with neighbouring Afghanistan, is not easy - especially for Afghan refugees fleeing war in their country. Tajikistan - the poorest state in the Soviet bloc still struggling to overcome the effects of a civil war in which 100,000 people were killed 10 years ago - is ill equipped to accommodate the influx.