The dire conditions of returning Afghan refugees

The situation regarding Afghan refugees returning to Afghanistan has raised significant concerns among international organizations. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans were compelled to leave Pakistan following the expiration of the Pakistani government's deadline for deporting over one million illegal Afghan immigrants. 

These forced deportees re-enter Afghanistan through border crossings like Torkham and Spinboldak, facing dire conditions marked by a lack of access to essential necessities such as food, clean water, proper shelter, and hygiene, which leaves them in a precarious situation. International humanitarian agencies have sounded the alarm, expressing deep worries about the predicament of these migrants who live in constant fear of arrest and deportation.

 While the Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, has allocated 2 billion Afghanis to address the needs of those deported from Pakistan and established committees for the distribution of essentials like food, water, and blankets, aid organizations argue that conditions in the Torkham camp remain far from suitable for returning refugees. According to the Associated Press, Timandari da Silva from World Vision stated in an interview with Deutsche Welle, "People are arriving in Afghanistan with nothing but the clothes on their backs," underscoring the dire circumstances faced by these refugees. 

Arshad Malik, director of the Save the Children Organization, has voiced concerns about the absence of educational facilities for many returnees, hindering their ability to continue their education.

 Most of them have acquired proficiency in Urdu and English but lack familiarity with Dari and Pashto languages. A representative of Save the Children has cautioned about the potential rise in child labor and involvement in trafficking among returning families, particularly among the poorest Afghan immigrant population in Pakistan.

 Aid organizations have expressed deep apprehension about the Afghan government's efforts to support and integrate these forcibly deported migrants. The international community, including the United Nations, has expressed profound concern over the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and has urged the Pakistani government to reconsider this matter. The situation remains tense, with no sign of change in Pakistan's stance on the issue.

_{Source: DW, BBC}