Pakistan is hosting over two million Afghan refugees, of whom 1.3 million are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The economic infrastructure and social protection systems in the host cities and communities in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are overstretched due to the large number of people. This leads to tensions between the refugees and the host communities.
The threats and acts of violence experienced, trauma, as well as existential and financial concerns create a situation that can cause fear and stress, culminating in depression. Children, adolescents, women and other disadvantaged groups are particularly affected.
The Government of Pakistan creates gender-sensitive and easily accessible psychosocial support services for Afghan refugees and host communities, and in this way promotes peaceful coexistence.
The project is creating low-threshold psychosocial support services for individuals, families and communities. In this way, it promotes social cohesion between individual groups in the communities. There is a particular focus on services for women and for adolescent girls and boys.
