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Interview: Afghanistan fight against tragedy, “is not ready for people returning to the country” – eSHOP24X7
Arafat Jamal, a representative of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, has returned from Islam Qala a few days ago. He told the UN News Hindi that the collision of Iran-Israel that lasted 12 days caused an influx of people returning to Afghanistan.
Every day in the past, about five thousand Afghan returned to their country, but in recent times this number reached 30 thousand every day.
The UN representative said in an interview that Afghan refugees and people seeking refuge are returning to a poor and private country, which cannot support them.
In Iran, Afghan women and girls had education and employment tools, but these opportunities will now become impossible with “excessive gender injustice” in Afghanistan.
Arafat Jamal expressed his anger because as soon as peace has been established in Afghanistan, the people of Iran and Pakistan have to take out the country and have to face the wave of their return. Most of the total population of more than 50 LAKH of Afghan and refugees refugees have taken refuge in these two countries during the last decades.
The organization of the refugee is dedicated to meet the immediate needs of the Afghan people, crossing the border: food, water, asylum, protection. In addition, financial support are provided, legal services have been provided and help has been provided and helping to join society is being provided again.
Arafat Jamal (left), representatives of the UN refugee agency in Afghanistan, meet the Afghan people who return through the border of Islam Kala.
However, according to the UN representative, due to the deduction of money, “our programs have had a difficult impact.” The level of cash assistance has been reduced from two thousand dollars per family to $ 156, which has made it difficult for families to direct their lives.
“We are lagging behind this money. We cannot help enough women and we are also hurting local communities.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
UN News Hindi: What is the situation on the border of Afghanistan and I will be? Has the violent confrontation increased in Iran the number of people returning to their country, Afghanistan?
Arafat Jamal: Recently I returned from the border from Iran, and the situation there is that there is an influx of people returning to Afghanistan. After going through the 12 -day experience in Iran, there has been a significant increase in the number of Afghans returning to their homes, of which many cases will be evacuated.
Before this confrontation, on average, five thousand people (Iran-Fganistan) crossed the border in one day, but in recent times this figure reached around 30 thousand. This means that the situation on the border is disturbed, people are being taken from the country for seven days, throughout the day.
People come by buses and sometimes arrive there with their family in five buses. They are shocked, annoying, tired and hungry. This is the situation on the border. The situation has become more serious due to war, but I would like to say that it is part of the trend and running. Even before Iran, Afghan refugees returned to their country, some of whom have voluntarily returned, but a large part belongs to the people who have been evacuated.
UN News Hindi: How much is local administration and visiting centers ready to support such a large amount of refugees that return?
Arafat Jamal: From this perspective, infrastructure is already installed and, therefore, no new preparation is required. With regard to the facts of Afghanistan, they are not recognized (international), but I would like to say that he and the people of Afghanistan welcomed their brothers who returned from Iran and Pakistan in every way.
This is not a feeling called alone. Actually, the same is happening. I did not see a single case in which people have not been welcome. And this is being done in the context of a country where according to the UN Development Program (UNDP), the population of 70 percent can live in some way.
Therefore, in my opinion, it is an extraordinary example of generosity. In addition, the desire to start the process of cured wounds and also accept people who return to their homes.
People Afghan that returns from Iran on the border of Islam Qala located in the province of Herat de Afghanistan.
UN News Hindi: What are the human needs of the population that returns to their country? Especially of women, children and other weak groups.
Arafat Jamal: When people reach the border, they need to meet basic human needs. Refuge for food, water, sleep and sleep.
But when we think from a long -term perspective, the situation is another. Many people are Afghastani, but they are not here. Many are born in Iran. Those who were not born there are also different from the local population of Afghanistan.
I met some people who returned, who have been the first graphic designer. I met many women who had employment, income. Even from a couple who had never come to Afghanistan before.
Its original relationship is from Dikundi located in the remote area. What will all these people do return to a country of scarcity? How will they make life? His return to a country is a great challenge, which is not ready to recover them.
You mentioned the situation of women and girls. This is a great concern for us. We know very well the state of gender injustice in this country. People who return from Iran are accustomed to a system where education is provided to children, where Afghan women also receive employment.
However, all these people now return to a country where it is no longer possible. This is a serious concern for us. Then we are concerned about the conservation of some special history. The minorities are returning, there are some who have associated with the governments of the past and are also women. Therefore, we are completely monitoring so that such conservation cases can be carefully met.
Afghan refugees return from Pakistan are being consulted in a health center.
UN News Hindi: You talked about the situation on the border of Iran-Fanganistan. What are the situation on the border of Pakistan, where the return of Afghan refugees began since October 2023 onwards?
Arafat Jamal: This is a tragic evidence of the destination of this country that even after four decades, La Paz has finally established itself, has been sent by force outside Pakistan and Iran or has to face a wave of Afghan refugees who return from there.
Since the introduction of this process by Pakistan in 2023, we have seen that 35 Lakh Afghans have returned to their country in these delicate circumstances. Pakistan has also eliminated the country and some people return voluntarily. He continues and reached its highest level in April (2025).
Currently, on average, a few thousand people are arriving at the Afghanistan border every day. We care about the deadline set until July 1, after which Pakistan has said that this process will also begin for people with refugee registration cards (by).
We are preparing for that, and there is also a discussion with the Pakistan government so that a flexible position can be adopted.
Due to the frequent instability in Afghanistan, the great population faces poverty.
A News Hindi: all this is happening at a time when a great cut in financial support for humanitarian aid objectives is being recorded. How has this affected the operation of the UN Agency for refugees? What is your message for the international community at this difficult time?
Arafat Jamal: This (deduction) has greatly affected our programs. I would like to tell him two examples: one is that we have been giving cash subsidies to Afghan families that return to the border, which is approximately $ 2,000 for a family. It depends on the size of the family.
In Afghanistan, two thousand dollars are enough to support this great uproar. For approximately 46 percent of the cash subsidies population, it is a way to re -establish the country.
In other words, they could buy land for themselves, even investing in small businesses could be assisted in the infection so that people could stand up.
But due to financial assistance cuttings, we can now provide only 1/7 help. That is, we have now reached $ 156 per family per family at $ 156 per family. Even in a country like Afghanistan, $ 156 doesn’t matter.
With this amount, a person can live on the basic requirements only one or two weeks. This does not help to return life. Therefore, a great result of the reduction in the amount of assistance is that it is not building circumstances for stability.
A woman is being taken to a wheelchair on Torkham’s border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Second, you talked about women and girls. I will give you an example. Despite current challenges and people throughout the country, we have been able to do an excellent job for women and girls.
For example, we have built a three -story shopping center for women alone in Hararat City located in the western region. We have given training to 400 midwives. We have supported countless women to start small businesses.
This has been done in the scope of strict rules and prisoners in the country, since we had financing for this work, which made us possible not only to reach women, but also provide help to men, who are ready to contribute to bold our projects.
Without this amount, now they are left behind. We cannot help the adequate amount of women and we are also harming communities that have offered to house these projects, which have faced the morality police and others in many cases, so that they can help people. This is a great shock for all of us.
