The United Nations (UN) and active humanitarian organizations working in Afghanistan have issued an urgent call for financial assistance. Motivated by the imminent threat of arrest and deportation, an increasing number of Afghans are returning from Pakistan on a daily basis. The plea is intended to facilitate essential “post-arrival” assistance for these families.
Alarming Trend: Children Make Up the Majority of Arrivals
A concerning statistic has been pointed out by the UN humanitarian coordination agency, revealing that over 60% of those arriving are children. After days of difficult travel, these young arrivals are now faced with a desperate situation where they are stuck at the border and have no idea where they will be going. In light of the ongoing crisis at the border, the vulnerability of this sizable child population highlights the urgency of the situation and calls for immediate and focused help to deal with their specific requirements and ensure their well-being.
Deteriorating Living Conditions
Afghan refugees encounter difficult circumstances as soon as they cross the border from Pakistan, where they are trying to avoid being arrested and deported. They find themselves sleeping outside without proper shelter, food, water to drink, or sanitary facilities. The two main border crossings, Torkham and Chaman, are exit points from Pakistan, where the Taliban, who are currently in power, have set up camps for awaiting refugees on the Afghan side. Reports, however, suggest that Torkham lacks the provision of sufficient shelter facilities.
A dreadful situation develops as these refugees struggle with scarce supplies of drinking water, no electricity, and no access to sanitation facilities. The challenges are worsened by poor hygiene and open defecation. Aware of the severity of the situation, UN agencies and other relief organizations are tirelessly working on establishing facilities to accommodate the thousands of people who enter Afghanistan every day.
UN Agency Chief Visits Torkham Border Crossing
An urgent statement was released by the UN agency on X, a well-known social media platform (formerly known as Twitter). This announcement came after UN country chief Daniel Endres visited the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. His goal was to interact with recent arrivals, determine their needs, and gain direct knowledge of the evolving situation.
Pakistan’s Deportation Order and International Response
The decision made by the Pakistani government in early October to deport all foreign nationals without proper documentation, including 1.7 million Afghans, serves as the backdrop for this humanitarian crisis. The ultimatum threatened to deport anyone staying in the nation after November 1st and to arrest them. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which anticipates more arrivals for the next six months, emphasizes the severity of the needs at Torkham.
The senior area coordinator for IRC Afghanistan, Naseeb Mashal, points out the critical need for international funding to meet the growing needs of recent arrivals. The Taliban opposes Pakistan’s deportation plan despite the ongoing crackdown, and international refugee organizations, led by the UN, continue to press Islamabad to halt these actions due to the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Response and Lack of Refugee Protection
Pakistan lacks national legislation for refugee protection because it is not a signatory to either the 1967 protocol or the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Pakistani authorities claim that deportations will take place in a “phased and orderly” style with safeguards of fair treatment, dismissing calls for an end to the crackdown. But recent events, like demolishing Afghan homes outside of Islamabad, highlight the challenging conditions that displaced people must endure.
To lessen the suffering of Afghan families returning in dread and desperation, international attention and immediate financial support are necessary in the face of this complex and dynamic crisis.
