The Acting Head of Afghanistan’s Mission to the United Nations has described the situation for Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan as “severe.”
Naseer Ahmad Faiq highlighted that many Afghan children in neighboring countries are deprived of education and healthcare services, adding that Iran is even expelling Afghan refugees who hold legal documentation.
In a session at the UN General Assembly, Faiq expressed concern about the growing number of Afghan refugees, with more than 5 million Afghans now residing in Iran and Pakistan.
He pointed out that this high number of refugees is putting significant strain on the host countries, which are already grappling with their own challenges.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, over 1.6 million Afghans have fled the country to escape violence, economic collapse, and systematic human rights abuses. Faiq called for increased financial support for countries hosting Afghan refugees to manage the escalating crisis.
Both Iran and Pakistan have intensified their deportation of Afghan migrants in recent months. Iran is reportedly carrying out mass deportations, with thousands of Afghan migrants being arrested and sent back to Afghanistan every day.
There have also been numerous reports of police brutality and attacks on Afghan refugees in Iran.
Faiq added that even Afghan migrants with legal documentation are being expelled from Iran, exacerbating the crisis. He noted that Afghan refugees in Iran are facing challenges accessing basic services, such as banking, due to issues with their documents, and some are being deported despite having the necessary paperwork.
He urged UN member states to increase their financial commitments to support Afghan refugees. He called on countries to raise the number of resettlement quotas and to support Afghan refugees through safe pathways, such as family reunification and humanitarian visas, which would ease the burden on host countries.
Faiq stressed the importance of ensuring that Afghan refugees are not forcibly deported and that any return to Afghanistan should be voluntary and carried out in a manner that respects the dignity and safety of the returnees.
He pointed to a recent UNHCR report, which indicated that the number of Afghan refugees and migrants has reached 5.53 million, with over 733,000 Afghans, including women and children, returning from Pakistan since last year.
The plight of Afghan refugees continues to worsen as they face increasing hardships in neighboring countries. While millions are forced to live in precarious conditions, the looming threat of forced deportations, particularly from Iran and Pakistan, adds to their vulnerability.
The international community’s failure to provide adequate support exacerbates the crisis, leaving Afghan families with limited options for survival.
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