© Sayed Rahman pour Action contre la Faim.
Headline
Afghan Families Deported from Pakistan Confront New Hardships
Almost one year after the initial wave of deportations, the expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan has left thousands of families and children in a dire situation.
As of today, around 670,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan to their home country since September 15, 2023 (UNHCR).
Long-lasting Consequences of Expulsions
Stripped of their homes and livelihoods, many are now grappling with extreme poverty, lack of shelter, and limited access to basic necessities. Beyond physical hardships, many have experienced the trauma of seeing their lives uprooted in a matter of hours, leading to heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and despair. The sudden loss of stability and the uncertainty of their future exacerbate these mental health challenges.
The bordering province of Helmand hosted many of the returnees, where Action Against Hunger has worked for many years. In Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, our teams quickly responded to help the most vulnerable families expelled from Pakistan by providing two rounds of multipurpose cash assistance to 600 households, or 4,200 individuals.
“We are eternal migrants”
Jan Mohammad lived in Pakistan for more than 10 years. Despite his entire family being expelled, he has not yet fully realized that he must start everything from scratch all over again. “In Pakistan, I used to work as a construction worker and gardener, which was enough to support my family. After being deported here [to Afghanistan], we have been living in ruins and sometimes at people’s places. Now we are constantly on the move like migrants, and our entire life has been trapped in this reality.”
It has been four months since Jan Mohammad and his family are trying to adapt to their new life back in Afghanistan. Given their extreme vulnerability, this household has benefited from the cash assistance provided by Action Against Hunger for two months. “This aid has saved us so that I could buy peas, rice and potatoes. However, we live in tents, and we are in critical need of appropriate housing. There is nothing to do here, I cannot find any job”.
© Sayed Rahman pour Action contre la Faim.
Sayed Rahman pour Action contre la Faim.
Indeed, most returnees indicate a lack of shelter as their most urgent concern. About 200 families were initially housed in a temporary camp on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, while others had to find housing with relatives or rent on their own. People urgently need shelter, and while the summer period is more manageable despite the high temperatures, this issue will become critical again in winter.
Jan Mohammad’s story is just one of thousands of Afghan voices silenced by the daily struggle for survival. The uncertain fate of these displaced individuals highlights a humanitarian crisis as they navigate the harsh realities of displacement with little to no support.
The temporary halt of deportations of undocumented Afghan refugees announced in July is an important step forward but should be made permanent in order to respect international law. Despite calls to the international community to step up support for Afghanistan, the plight of these vulnerable communities remains largely unresolved.
Afghanistan
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