18,000 Afghans Flee Pakistan in Just One Month – The Shocking Truth Behind Their Sudden Exodus!
Fear of Arrest, Rising Rent, and Unemployment Force Thousands to Return to Afghanistan – But What Awaits Them Back Home? Inside the Struggles of Repatriated Families and the Challenges They Face in Rebuilding Their Lives
Image Source: Human Rights Watch
Islamabad: According to a recent report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 18,000 Afghan nationals have left Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan in January 2024 alone, with repatriations increasing significantly in the second half of the month. The numbers reflect a growing crisis as Afghan nationals face increasing pressures in Pakistan, including fear of arrest, rising costs of living and sectarian tensions.
Between January 16-31, nearly 10,000 Afghan nationals crossed back into Afghanistan through major border points such as Torkham, Chaman and Ghulam Khan. Shockingly, more than 824,568 individuals have returned to Afghanistan since September 2023, with 18,577 making the journey in January alone. Most of the returnees are working-age adults (18-59 years) and children (5-17 years), of which 502 children under the age of 10 were vaccinated against polio before crossing the border.
The reasons behind this mass exodus are both heartbreaking and worrying. According to the IOM report:
- 78% cited fear of arrest as their main reason.
- 32% said they could no longer pay house rent.
- 30% were having difficulty affording basic amenities, while 26% cited unemployment as the reason.
- 9% said they were facing communal pressure to return to Afghanistan.
The report also said that the fear of arrest and communal pressure has increased in the last two weeks, forcing more and more families to take the difficult decision of migrating.
Returning to Afghanistan is fraught with challenges, but the reality of life after repatriation is even more terrifying. Returnees cited the following as their biggest concerns:
- 98% people are worried about finding income opportunities.
- 89% people fear that they will not be able to arrange for livelihood.
- 87% people are worried about settling in a new city.
- 71% people are worried about finding shelter.
In addition, access to basic necessities such as healthcare (36%), education (35%) and clean drinking water (32%) remains a significant challenge. Surprisingly, only 8% cited security as a major concern, indicating that economic and social pressures outweigh fears of instability.
Returning to Afghanistan is not only emotionally draining, but also financially burdensome. On average, returnees spend $513 to travel from their place of origin in Pakistan to their final destination in Afghanistan. Interestingly, the cost of traveling from the border to their destination ($86) is higher than the cost of reaching the border from their place of origin ($67).
Most returnees brought with them life-long savings in cash (97%), essential household goods (95%) and productive assets (53%), reflecting their desperate attempt to rebuild their lives in an uncertain future.
The majority of returnees came from Balochistan (43%), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (28%) and Sindh (20%). Cities near the border such as Quetta (24%) and Qila Abdullah (10%) were the most common points of origin. However, a significant number also came from far-flung cities such as Karachi (20%) and Peshawar (19%).
In Afghanistan, most people are moving to provinces near the border, including Kandahar (32%), Nangarhar (23%), and Kabul (13%).
Despite the challenges, 89% cited family reasons for choosing their destination, while 67% mentioned the availability of aid in Afghanistan. Additionally, 17% expressed a desire to obtain Afghan nationality, reflecting their hope for a new start in their country.
As the repatriation process progresses, the international community is faced with the question of how to support these returnees. With thousands struggling to rebuild their lives, from economic opportunities to basic services, the need for lasting solutions has never been more important.
Will Afghanistan be able to cope with this wave of returnees? Or will this exodus lead to a new humanitarian crisis? Only time will tell.
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