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The deportees returning to Afghanistan under the Taliban regime are starting anew. This year alone, the number of Afghans forced back from Pakistan and Iran has reached one million, with a total of six million deportees. Most of these individuals are stepping foot in Afghanistan for the first time, facing challenges of survival and an uncertain future.
Thirty-five-year-old Nazia crossed from Pakistan, where she was born, into Afghanistan for the first time. She returned with her family, but the reality in Afghanistan was far from what she had imagined. Many deportees are struggling to find means of livelihood and are in dire need of basic necessities like food. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emphasizes that this large-scale return is unprecedented in recent history.
While the deportees fled harassment and discrimination in Pakistan and Iran, they now face concerns about safety and survival in Afghanistan. The Taliban government claims to assist returnees, but policies restricting education for women and girls complicate international support. Many deportees are left with anxiety about their future as they attempt to start over in a challenging environment.