Afghans forced to flee Iran: 'arriving at the border with just the clothes on their back' | DW New

Key Concepts

• Returnees: Individuals returning to Afghanistan, primarily from Iran and Pakistan.
• Involuntary Returns: Returns not made by choice, often sudden and with limited resources.
• Humanitarian Crisis: A complex situation involving drought, poverty, and a large humanitarian caseload.
• Infrastructure Strain: Overburdened infrastructure due to the influx of returnees and existing crises.
• Child-Friendly Spaces: Safe areas for children at the border providing psychosocial support.
• Psychosocial Support: Assistance to address the mental and emotional well-being of affected individuals.
• Reintegration: The process of helping returnees re-establish their lives in Afghanistan.
• Decreasing Funding: Reduction in financial support for humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
• Sustained International Attention: The need for continuous focus and support from the international community.

Scale and Nature of Returns

• Nearly 2 million people have returned to Afghanistan since the start of the year, largely from Iran and Pakistan.
• Many returns are involuntary and sudden, with returnees arriving with minimal possessions.
• Many returnees, especially children, have not lived in Afghanistan for years or decades, with some never having been there before.
• The scale and speed of returns are beyond Afghanistan's capacity to manage.

Challenges and Existing Crises

• Afghanistan faces a complex web of crises, including a prolonged drought, widespread poverty, and a massive humanitarian caseload.
• The country is already struggling to provide jobs for its existing population.
• Decreasing funding for humanitarian response exacerbates the situation.
• Infrastructure is stretched to the breaking point, making it difficult to provide basic services.

Conditions at the Border (Islam Kala)

• Conditions at the border point in Islam Kala are extremely difficult.
• Facilities are overcrowded, and basic services are limited.
• Arriving individuals are extremely vulnerable, including women-headed households, children, and the elderly.
• Many returnees do not know where they will go next.

Humanitarian Response and Needs

• Local authorities and humanitarian organizations like Save the Children are trying to respond, but resources are limited.
• Immediate needs include transportation, food assistance, child-friendly spaces, and psychosocial support.
• Longer-term needs include recovery and reintegration support.
• Families need food, clean water, medical care, and safe shelter.
• Support is needed to restart lives through livelihoods, psychosocial support, and education.

Role of International Institutions

• There is an immediate need for humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs at the border.
• Sustained international attention and funding are crucial for recovery and reintegration.
• Decreasing funding for humanitarian response, especially in Afghanistan, is a major concern.
• Major funding cuts and suspensions over the past year have strapped the humanitarian response.

Save the Children's Activities

• Save the Children is providing child-friendly spaces at the border.
• They are also offering psychosocial support to children.

Notable Quotes

• "Afghanistan is not equipped to manage the scale and the speed of returns that we have been seeing over the course of this year." - Samira Sayed Rahman, Save the Children Afghanistan.
• "...the humanitarian response is already strapped and it's going to be incredibly difficult for us to be able to handle this influx of refugees that we have been seeing..." - Samira Sayed Rahman, Save the Children Afghanistan.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The influx of returnees to Afghanistan, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, is overwhelming the country's already strained resources and infrastructure. The situation is compounded by existing crises such as drought, poverty, and a large humanitarian caseload. While humanitarian organizations are providing assistance, sustained international attention and funding are crucial to address both immediate needs and long-term recovery and reintegration efforts. The decreasing funding for humanitarian response poses a significant threat to the ability to effectively support the returnees and the Afghan population as a whole.