KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provided assistance to 572 Afghan migrants returning from Pakistan between August 11 and 17, the agency reported this week.
Of those returning, 50 percent were women, and 58 percent of the households were headed by women, according to the UNHCR. Additionally, 53 of the returnees were under the age of 18.
This assistance comes as Pakistan has intensified deportations of Afghan migrants, with refugee organizations reporting that around 600,000 migrants have been expelled since last November. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) previously reported that at least eight million Afghans have migrated since 2020, driven by ongoing conflict and economic instability.
Some of the refugees being deported by Pakistan told Amu News that they face an uncertain future, having been forced to leave everything behind. Many expressed concern about the lack of resources and support as they return to a country still grappling with widespread poverty and insecurity.
