In brief
"With over a million Afghans deported from Iran since January, many arrive back to a homeland overwhelmed with poverty and strict gender restrictions."
At the desolate border crossing of Islam Qala between Iran and Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans find themselves in a harrowing situation as they are expelled from Iran due to a government crackdown targeting undocumented refugees. Daily, nearly 20,000 individuals are making their return, loaded with anxiety and few possessions. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 1.4 million Afghans have been deported since the beginning of the year, with a significant surge following the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. As these returnees cross into Afghanistan, they are met with dire circumstances. The country is engulfed in a humanitarian crisis, including rampant poverty and severe restrictions imposed on women and girls, compounding the difficulties for many who are unfamiliar with their own homeland. Upon their return, Afghans find themselves at an overwhelmed processing center in Islam Qala. Many express their frustration and bewilderment to journalists, questioning where they will go given the scarce opportunities available to them in a country still reeling from despair.“I worked in Iran for 42 years, so hard that my knees are broken, and for what?” lamented Mohammad Akhundzada, a construction worker among the returnees. His sentiments echo the fears of countless others in a similar plight, highlighting the struggle faced by those who have lost not only their livelihood but also hope for a better future.
