NEW DELHI: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in South Asia has appealed for USD 620 million to support and protect Afghan migrants in Iran and Pakistan, as per Khaama Press. The organization highlighted the challenging situation in Afghanistan and its neighbouring nations for the year 2024.
A UNHCR report projects assistance for 4.8 million Afghan migrants and 2.5 million host community members in 2024.The report also mentions the worsening conditions in Afghanistan due to earthquakes, natural disasters, and climate change, leading to the deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan.
The UNHCR emphasized the critical need for humanitarian aid to help 23.7 million people, especially women, girls, and minorities, survive in Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan currently host 7.7 million Afghan citizens, with 1.6 million individuals deported to Afghanistan since 2021.
Concerns have been raised by Amnesty International and other human rights groups regarding the ongoing expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, citing violations of refugee rights and international laws. Amnesty International stated that the repatriation plan endangers the lives of Afghan refugees, including women, girls, journalists, and human rights defenders.
More than half a million migrants have been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan since November 2023, facing severe challenges amid a humanitarian crisis, including a lack of basic necessities like shelter, food, and healthcare. The situation remains precarious for these returnees.