In the aftermath of repatriation from Pakistan, some Afghan migrants find themselves in dire conditions in camps within Afghanistan, with reports of sick children and inadequate living conditions.
One migrant, who tragically lost his wife during the return journey due to a lack of medicine and health facilities, shed light on the challenging circumstances faced by these returnees. Criticism is also directed at the treatment of immigrants by Pakistani police, with some expressing frustration over returning empty-handed.
Among the resettlement camps is one located in the Sarubi district of Kabul, accommodating returnees and deportees from Pakistan.
Lal Mohammad, a resident of Balkh province who spent 46 years in Pakistan, shares his hardships, citing harsh treatment by Pakistani police and the loss of his wife during the challenging journey. Now residing in the camp with seven daughters and two sons, he expresses the difficulties of starting anew.
“I spent 25 years in Pakistan and worked very hard, but now I have been deported and I am living a difficult life here. They oppressed us there,” he explained.
Uncertain futures coupled with a lack of living facilities present significant challenges for these repatriated migrants. Women, children, the elderly, and young people in the camp are particularly vulnerable, with reports of sickness and limited access to medicine.
Nadeema, a deported immigrant from Pakistan, lamented the absence of aid and expressed the need for assistance as they plan to relocate to Baghlan.
The United Nations underscores the heightened vulnerability of returning migrants, reporting that 80 percent of them are women and children. As winter approaches, their precarious situation becomes a pressing humanitarian concern.
The most recent report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid reveals that, between September 15 and December 14, 465,000 refugees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, with 28,300 forcibly deported.
