Since September 2023, more than 2.43 million undocumented Afghan migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan.
Women and girls represent approximately half of Pakistan returnees, while their share among those returning from Iran have increased regularly, reaching around 30% in June.
The pace of climbing yields is useful reported THE Humanitarian work groupa consortium of humanitarian actors led by United Nations and the United Nations Reproductive Health Agency (Unfpa).
Border vulnerabilities
Women and girls arrive with little protection or support.
“A tent would be my only protection. I don’t have appropriate clothes or hijabs to wear, no food to eat, no contact number and no parents to stay, “said a woman on the border.
Those who travel without a mahram – A male tutor – Faced with specific risks. Interviews and discussions by the working group have revealed extortion, harassment and threats of violence to border crossings.
“They took 6,000 rupees (about $ 21) and only gave me 2,000 back. Now I don’t know where to go with this money, “a woman told Torkham. In Qala Islam, others have pointed out “ill -treatment and harassment … provoking fear and distress”.
Increased risks of protection
Rapatrians are faced with growing exposure to sexist violence, early and forced marriage, trafficking and transactional sex – exacerbated by a lack of basic resources.
A humanitarian worker from Kandahar said: “A widow with four girls was trying to see if she could sell one or two girls to someone here to have money to survive.”
Humanitarian agencies report a critical shortage of safe spaces and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPS), in particular to border passages, where many women arrive in distress and disoriented.
Shelter, livelihoods and education
In the provinces, women cite shelter, livelihoods and education of girls as best needs.
“We need a place to stay, a chance to learn and a way to win,” said a repatriated woman from Nangarhar’s province.
Only 10% of households led by women live in permanent shelters and almost four out of ten fear the expulsion. In Herat, 71% of women declared rent disputes and 45% of households led by women lived in inadequate housing.
“Many families lack sufficient financial resources to provide basic foods and necessities,” said a woman in Herat.
Women who previously worked in professions such as sewing or crafts now find it difficult to restart due to a lack of tools, movement restrictions and limited networks.
Ahead
The forced yields that should continue, humanitarian agencies urge on the scale of sex sensitive services, including security spaces, mental health care, support for livelihoods and access to education.
UN women and its partners call for an increase in funding and supported international support to meet urgent and long -term needs of Afghan women and girls.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
