RESEARCH REPORT communities constitute a highly vulnerable group that require speci ic attention to their needs and demands. Based on data collected by IOM and UNHCR, one of every four Afghan has been displaced at least at one point in their life. Besides, more than half of the internally displaced and returnees experience displacement for multiple times.4 A survey conducted in 15 provinces by the IOM found that one-sixth of the population in these provinces are either internally displaced or have returned after having crossed a border.5 Afghanistan comprises an extremely complicated context, where multiple factors intertwine to create a protracted displacement setting feeding into insecurity and chaos even further. Majority of these cases turn to protracted displacement situations as ongoing con lict and poverty prevent many from returning to their places of origin. Although many parts of the country enjoyed a peaceful period during 2002-2006, security started deteriorating again in 2007. Destabilization intensi ied in 2009 and steadily escalated until a new level in 2015. This situation persisted and continue in much of Afghanistan until today. In 2017, as the number of recorded con lict incidents increased to 80 incidents per day, sectarian violence surged in Kabul, and number of civilian causalities saw a shocking spike, the UN reclassi ied the country as an active armed con lict. This protracted displacement condition worsened by acute poverty, widespread unemployment and lack of access to livelihoods and basic services. In 2018, there were 3.3 million people with acute humanitarian needs and 8.7 million in chronic needs.6 This number rose to one-third of the population facing food insecurity and about 4 million to be in emergency situation in 2020.7 Considering this complexity, an inclusive and contextualized peace process that takes into account displacement and its sustainable resolutions as one of its central elements will have better prospects for success. It is predicted on an OCHA (2017) ‘2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Afghanistan’, United Nations O ice for the Coordination of Humanitarian A airs, (December), p. 54. Available at: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/ afghanistan/document/afghanistan-humanitarian-needs-overview-2018. 4 Speir, Michael. 2018. “Displacement Survey Shows 3.5 Million Internally Displaced, Returnees from Abroad in 15 Afghan Provinces”. IOM: Afghanistan. https://afghanistan.iom.int/press-releases/displacement-survey-shows-35million-internally-displaced-returnees-abroad-15-afghan 5 OCHA (2017) ‘2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Afghanistan’, United Nations O ice for the Coordination of Humanitarian A airs, (December), p. 54. Available at: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/ afghanistan/document/afghanistan-humanitarian-needs-overview-2018. 6 UNOCHA (2020) ‘Afghanistan: Humanitarian Response Plan (2018-2021)’, United Nations O ice for the Coordination of Humanitarian A airs, (June), p.1. Available at: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/ operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-humanitarian-response-plan-2018-2021-june-2020-update. 7 f f f ff ff ff f ff f ff ff f 11