Nearly 50,000 Afghan children deported from Pakistan in 15 days

In the past 15 days, nearly 50,000 Afghan children were deported from Pakistan, facing severe challenges upon their return.

In the first 16 days of April 2024, around 50,000 children were among the Afghan refugees expelled from Pakistan. Save the Children has warned that these children face a high risk of separation from their families upon arrival in Afghanistan.

According to Save the Children, over 84,000 Afghans had returned to Afghanistan by April 16, with 58% of them being children. Notably, about 20% of these children were under the age of five. The children’s vulnerability to exploitation and distress is compounded by their chaotic and often unsafe return.

Pakistani authorities have confirmed that around 84,869 Afghan migrants have been forcibly deported since April 1, 2024, including thousands of children. Since September 2023, roughly 545,000 children have been expelled from Pakistan, with significant negative consequences on their well-being and safety.

Save the Children has expressed grave concerns about the health risks these children face upon returning to Afghanistan. Many are vulnerable to contagious diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections. The lack of sufficient medical resources in returnee areas exacerbates these risks, making children even more susceptible to preventable diseases.

A survey conducted by Save the Children in 2024 revealed that nearly half of families returning from Pakistan have found it impossible to secure work in Afghanistan. Furthermore, 81% of respondents reported lacking marketable skills, while two-thirds of returning children have been unable to enroll in school due to missing documentation.

Save the Children’s Afghanistan director emphasized the immense strain the return of thousands of refugees places on already stretched resources in the country. Many of these children were born in Pakistan and have no connection to Afghanistan, intensifying the challenges of reintegration. Immediate international support is urgently needed to address the humanitarian crisis and provide vital services to these vulnerable children.

Given the severe strain on both families and the country’s resources, urgent financial and humanitarian support from international governments and organizations is essential. The global community must step up to assist Afghanistan in providing for the overwhelming number of returning refugees and ensuring the safety and well-being of the children among them.

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