As neighbouring countries have forced tens of thousands of Afghans home, deepening humanitarian crises are unfolding in Afghanistan.
More than 280,000 Afghans have been deported or pressured to leave Pakistan and Iran in April alone. Many people were in poverty and desperately needed support to rebuild their lives. Their stories reveal the unstable future they face now.
Ezatura, 45, recently entered Afghanistan from the Torkham border with his wife and seven children.
“They told us to leave urgently,” he said. “All of our belongings were left. Everything was lost. There’s nothing now.”
Born and raised in Pakistan, Ezatura worked as a worker in Rawalpindi throughout her life. Now he faces the difficult challenge of supporting his family in a country he didn’t know about – unemployment and poverty have dramatically escalated, leaving half of the population relying on humanitarian aid for survival.
Pakistan and Iran have hosted the majority of the 5.25 million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in the region for decades. However, the economic downturns in both countries have increased hostility towards Afghan communities.
Returnees face serious risks to Afghanistan’s safety and rights.
Women and girls are particularly vulnerable due to increased restrictions on their ability to work in certain sectors, access education and move freely.
Ethnic and religious minorities, human rights advocates, and journalists also face dangerous dangers upon return.
These threats are exacerbated by severe humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, rising unemployment and a decline in international aid.
The UN in Afghanistan has launched a response plan to return Afghans.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) needs nearly $60 million to provide critical assistance, including emergency cash assistance, food, shelters, women’s head families, professional services for vulnerable groups such as disabled people and children.
The agency also provides mental health support and support to survivors of gender-based violence.
“The lives of millions of Afghans are hanging from thread,” said Arafat Jamal’s representative of Afghanistan UNHCR. “We will see greater international support over the next few days and weeks to respond to this crisis.”
This photo gallery was provided by UNHCR.
Source link
