Protection and assistance needs of Afghan children and youth in Pakistan

The report draws upon a total of 1,109 survey interviews conducted in Pakistan in September and December 2025with Afghan children (14-17 years old), youth (18-24 years old), caregivers (travelling or living with children), and non-caregiving adults. These survey findings are complemented by twenty key informant interviews conducted with Afghan community leaders, humanitarian actors and NGO representatives, government officials, and child protection experts.

• Afghan mixed movements to Pakistan remains predominantly driven by insecurity and lack of rights, though economic drivers are also an important factor, in particular among men and boys.
• More than half of unaccompanied children made the decision to leave Afghanistan alone. Unaccompanied boys more commonly report that their journey was part of a family strategy.

• Although men and boys more commonly report some form of income generation than women and girls, a majority of unaccompanied girls were working, in opposition to cultural norms.

• Undocumented Afghans are unable to access basic rights and services such as formal education and healthcare; financial barriers can further limit access to services even for those with the requisite documentation. Fear of deportation compounds these issues; irrespective of legal status, Afghans are increasingly afraid to go out.

• Over three quarters of children surveyed had been unable to access education or training in Pakistan, with limited variation across genders. Access to health services is also severely constrained: close to half (49%) of girls and 40% of boys surveyed had no access to healthcare.

• Precarious housing arrangements are common among unaccompanied children, a quarter of whom were living in the street or in makeshift accommodation. Unaccompanied girls more commonly lived in a shared house or apartment, suggesting other protection concerns.
• Close to three quarters of unaccompanied children surveyed were earning an income, compared to a third of those in the care of a parent or guardian. Casual or occasional work is the most common source of income among all children surveyed. More than half of children who work report experiencing verbal abuse.

• Detention is the biggest danger identified by children surveyed, in particular for boys. Children also identify a high risk of deportation, with girls somewhat more commonly perceiving deportation as a threat.

• Youth and caregivers similarly identified a high risk of detention for boys and young men; the risk of insults and harassment was perceived to be common to children and youth of both genders.

• Though mentioned by few youths or caregivers, kidnapping emerges as one of children’s top concerns. Girls and unaccompanied children feel most at risk.

• Children – particularly boys and unaccompanied children – identify the military and police as the most common perpetrators of dangers faced in Pakistan.

• As a result of protection risks, close to a fifth of children are afraid to leave the house or move around, and 70% feel depressed.

• 85% of children reported that they had not received assistance in Pakistan. In an emergency, youth would most commonly turn to nearby relatives or neighbours – just one youth surveyed said he would reach out to an NGO.

• More than three-quarters of youth and caregivers surveyed felt in need of additional assistance.

• Reflecting the challenges posed by lack of documentation, legal assistance was the most widely reported need by youth and caregivers. Three-quarters of children similarly identify documentation as one of their greatest needs.

• Whereas children in the care of a parent or guardian often prioritise the need for education, unaccompanied children have a greater need for lifesaving assistance including food, water, sanitation, and shelter.

• 57% of children intend to move to another country with many expressing hope for resettlement.