Arafat Jamal: Forced Deportation of Afghan Migrants Must Stop; Returns Should Be Dignified

Arafat Jamal, head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, emphasized the urgent need to halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan.

Jamal called for the return of migrants to be conducted in a voluntary, controlled, and dignified manner. He stated that negotiations with the authorities of these two countries are ongoing to prevent forced deportations. “We hope these discussions lead to positive outcomes, ensuring returns are carried out more respectfully. However, we must be prepared for any scenario,” he said. Jamal noted that UNHCR teams have been stationed at the borders since 2023 to assist returning migrants but highlighted the severe challenge of funding shortages. He urged the international community to increase financial support, as current aid levels are declining due to budget constraints.

Meanwhile, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Acting Minister of Migrants and Returnees of Afghanistan, met with Andrika Ratwatte, Deputy Head of UNAMA for Humanitarian Affairs, Arafat Jamal, and Mihyung Park, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan. He stressed the need for a trilateral meeting with Iran to address the challenges faced by migrants and called for greater cooperation to manage the returnee crisis.

Juma Khan Poyil, a migrant rights activist, condemned the widespread deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran as a violation of international conventions and principles of good neighborliness. He warned that these actions have sparked significant concerns and hardships among Afghan migrants.

In Kabul’s migrant camps, the dire situation of returnees is starkly evident. These camps are not just temporary shelters but a reflection of the suffering and bitter stories of those forcibly expelled from neighboring countries. Nuruddin, a deportee from Iran, spoke of his struggles: “My infant child lacks formula milk, and we are in distress. I need work opportunities in Baghlan province.” Abdul Malik, born in Pakistan, lamented the confiscation of his assets: “They took my shop and house and told me to leave.”