Taking the Long View: The Consequences of Displacement for Children in Afghanistan

Abstract

This chapter investigates the long-term consequences of displacement in Afghanistan, by inquiring how younger generations within displaced households may fare in their particular circumstances. More specifically, it compares differences between displaced and nondisplaced households in outcomes arguably crucial for healthy human capital formation of children—namely, education and nutrition. Empirical analysis finds solid evidence that displacement leads to greater food insecurity and lower dietary diversity, and it indicates that displacement may have a negative effect on school attendance. The overall conclusion that internally displaced households are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within Afghanistan’s population is not an unexpected revelation. What is salient, however, is the extent to which children of displaced households may be particularly afflicted, and the consequences that this may have for future development.