Surge in Returning Refugees Puts Strain on Afghanistan as Thousands Cross Border Daily

KABUL – Afghanistan is witnessing a massive and rapid influx of its citizens returning from neighboring countries, with nearly 15,000 refugees crossing the border in a single day this week, according to official figures. This surge highlights a deepening regional refugee crisis and poses a significant challenge to the Taliban-led government’s capacity to provide for its people.

Official Figures and Routes

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), reported on Thursday that on Wednesday alone, 2,500 Afghan families, comprising 14,911 individuals, returned from Iran and Pakistan. The returnees entered the country through several key border crossings, including:

• Islam Qala in Herat (from Iran)

• Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (from Iran)

• Spin Boldak in Kandahar (from Pakistan)

• Bahramcha in Helmand (from Pakistan)

• Torkham crossing (from Pakistan)

According to Fitrat, the authorities facilitated the transport of 3,005 families (20,742 individuals) to their home provinces. He also noted that 3,446 returnees received humanitarian assistance, and telecommunications companies distributed 2,577 SIM cards to aid their reintegration.

A Crisis of Voluntariness and Coercion

While the IEA frames the returns as a positive homecoming, the situation is more complex. This latest wave follows a pattern of forced deportations from host countries. Just earlier in the week, 16,243 Afghan migrants were forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan in a single day.

• From Pakistan: The Pakistani government has implemented a strict policy to repatriate what it estimates are over a million undocumented Afghans. A deadline for voluntary return has passed, leading to widespread arrests and forced expulsions.

• From Iran: Tehran has long conducted periodic deportations of undocumented Afghan workers, often citing economic and security pressures.

Many of those returning arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs, having lost their livelihoods and homes abroad.

Mounting Challenges for a Struggling Nation

The rapid arrival of thousands of returnees daily places an immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure and aid systems. The country is grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, exacerbated by years of conflict, a collapsed economy, and international sanctions following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Humanitarian organizations have raised alarms about the lack of adequate shelter, food, healthcare, and employment opportunities for the new arrivals. Many returnees are heading back to provinces already suffering from severe drought, economic stagnation, and food insecurity, raising fears of a further internal displacement crisis.

The distribution of humanitarian aid and SIM cards, as mentioned by the IEA, is a stopgap measure. The long-term integration of hundreds of thousands of returnees will require a coordinated, large-scale effort that the current administration and its limited resources are struggling to provide.

As border crossings continue to see high traffic, the international community and aid agencies are watching with concern, warning that without a significant increase in support, this massive return risks exacerbating an already dire human tragedy inside Afghanistan.

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