Pakistan's Mass Deportations Spark Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan - The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, with the ramifications of mass deportations from Pakistan compounding the crisis that has plagued the nation since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Firstpost reports that the deportation policy, introduced in October 2023 as a response to national security and economic pressures, has forced hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans to return to their homeland. Unfortunately, many of these returnees are unfamiliar with their country, exacerbating the challenges they face.

The conditions awaiting these deportees are truly dire. Shelter, food, and employment opportunities are scarce, making their reintegration into a society already grappling with economic collapse nearly impossible. The Taliban-led government is stretched thin, struggling to provide for a growing population of returnees while attempting to manage the existing needs of its citizens.

The Scale of the Humanitarian Crisis

Three years after the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 23 million people—more than half of the country’s population—urgently requiring humanitarian assistance. The International Rescue Committee highlights that women and children bear the brunt of the crisis, with women making up 25% and children accounting for a staggering 52% of total needs. Economic instability, fueled by ongoing conflict and climate shocks, has led to soaring poverty and doubled unemployment rates over the past year.

As of June 2024, more than 12.4 million Afghans are grappling with acute food insecurity, prompted by the worst drought in nearly three decades. This troubling trend threatens to leave over half a million children malnourished, which is a distressing development for a country already struggling to provide basic necessities. Furthermore, approximately 6.3 million Afghans are experiencing ongoing displacement, severely lacking access to security and essential services.

Returnees and their Struggles

The mass return of Afghans who were living in Pakistan, driven back by the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), has also intensified the crisis. OCHA indicates that over 679,000 Afghans returned to their homeland between September 2023 and July 2024, often encountering daunting challenges, much like Ghulam Akbar, a 62-year-old returnee who has shared the harsh realities faced by many. Providing adequate support to these returnees is crucial, as they struggle to secure healthcare, housing, and jobs, all of which are in extremely short supply.

With this backdrop, there’s a pressing need for concerted international effort. The Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan only received 25% of the funding required as of August 2024, severely hampering the delivery of humanitarian services. The international community is being urged to fully fund this plan and to support Afghan civil society organizations, particularly those led by women, to address desperate needs on the ground.

As we commemorate events like World Refugee Day, it’s vital to remember the resilience of those affected by displacement. With about 7.6 million Afghans currently residing in Iran and Pakistan, including around 3.1 million in Pakistan alone, the path to stabilization will remain rocky without robust humanitarian aid and restored developmental support to tackle the root causes of poverty in Afghanistan. In times like these, every little bit helps, and solidarity with the Afghan people is crucial now more than ever.