Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees recently deported from Pakistan are facing “dire conditions” in makeshift camps along the border, according to a statement issued on Monday by the international aid organisation Islamic Relief Worldwide.
The charity reported that returnees are arriving in Afghanistan without access to shelter, food, clean water, or cash. Many have been forced to abandon all possessions during their expulsion from Pakistan.
“Many are arriving in Afghanistan without any shelter, food, cash or water, and families told us they had to leave all their possessions – including animals and household utensils – behind as they cannot afford to bring them,” the statement read.
Islamic Relief’s assessment team, which visited the Torkham border crossing, noted a sharp deterioration in support services compared to previous waves of deportations. Basic humanitarian assistance that was once available is now absent, the group said.
Ramin Sadat, a staff member with Islamic Relief, described the current situation as unprecedented.
“I have previously covered the 2023 and 2024 returnee influx, but this new wave is unlike anything I’ve seen before. People arrive in droves, covered in dust, crammed onto trucks, and facing a barren border with no basic services in sight. The first thing that greets them is a harsh, windy storm swirling with dust,” he said.
The statement highlighted the overcrowding of temporary camps and warned that the arrival of more deportees in the coming days will further strain already limited resources.
Islamic Relief also expressed concern over the timing of the crisis, noting that many humanitarian aid programmes have recently been scaled back due to declining international support.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 45,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan in the past two weeks, with children accounting for 58 per cent of the returnees.
The charity has urged the international community to increase support for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan to prevent a worsening of the crisis.
