KABUL, Afghanistan — Every year, thousands of Afghans take the dangerous route of illegal migration, driven by desperation to escape poverty or insecurity. Many fall victim to human trafficking networks, risking their lives in search of better opportunities.
Among them is Safdar, an Afghan man who still carries the physical and emotional scars of an ill-fated journey to Iran five years ago.
Safdar, whose name has been changed for his protection, embarked on the perilous journey to help his struggling family. But his hopes were shattered when the smuggler’s vehicle overturned in Iran’s Kerman province.
“Four or five years ago, we were on the road from Kerman to Bam in a smuggler’s vehicle,” Safdar said, recounting the tragedy. “The car veered off a small bridge and overturned. One person died on the spot. I was severely injured, and so were others.”
The injuries to Safdar’s head and back were life-threatening. Despite his critical condition, he faced challenges accessing medical care.
“They took me to five different doctors, but none of them agreed to treat me,” he said. “Finally, the sixth doctor accepted, but only after warning that he couldn’t guarantee my survival. He performed surgery and removed clotted blood from my brain.”
Family struggles amid crisis
Safdar’s wife, Nahid, who also spoke under a pseudonym, recalled the hardship their family endured during his recovery. Left alone to care for their home, she was devastated by the financial and emotional toll of his injuries.
“He left because we had nothing,” Nahid said. “He wanted to earn money and support the family, but after the accident, everything fell apart. For an entire week, he was stuck on the road, injured and helpless. No one could go to him or bring him back. When they finally got him to a hospital, the doctors said he wouldn’t survive. We had to pay huge amounts for his treatment, which left us drowning in debt.”
The crash also claimed the life of a teenage boy traveling with Safdar. “They returned his body in a coffin,” Nahid said. “The smugglers collected money to transport him back to Afghanistan.”
Warnings against illegal migration
Safdar’s story is just one of many accounts of suffering caused by illegal migration. While some migrants survive the journey, others lose their lives or face long-term physical and emotional trauma.
“Illegal migration is full of risks,” Safdar said. “I went because I thought it was the only way to help my family, but it ended up causing even more problems.”
Advocacy groups warn that human traffickers often exploit vulnerable individuals, luring them with false promises. Many migrants, like Safdar, are unaware of the dangers until it is too late.
“Every person who has taken this path has their own tragic story,” Safdar added. “My injuries still affect me to this day. If I could go back in time, I would never take this route. I urge others to avoid trusting traffickers and risking their lives.”
Nahid echoed her husband’s plea, urging others to learn from their experience. “He left to solve our financial problems, but instead, we ended up with more hardships,” she said. “It’s not worth it.”
The perils of illegal migration are part of a larger issue faced by Afghanistan, where poverty and insecurity push many to seek refuge abroad. Trafficking networks thrive in such conditions, preying on those desperate enough to take the risk.
While survivors like Safdar and Nahid share their stories to warn others, the lack of alternatives for safe and legal migration keeps many trapped in the cycle of exploitation and danger.
As Safdar said, “No matter how difficult life is, putting yourself and your family through this pain is not the solution.”
