Saudi aid agency KSrelief is providing assistance to thousands of Afghan families who have been repatriated from Pakistan.
A massive exodus of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan during conflicts since 1979, and while some returned over the years, many now face forced repatriation due to Pakistan’s recent clampdown on undocumented immigrants.
With roughly half a million Afghans affected by Pakistan's policy change since October, these returnees, around 1.7 million of which were undocument, are arriving in
Afghanistan with little to no resources.
Although the Afghan government has pledged financial support, the amount is insufficient to meet the substantial needs of families without housing, jobs, or sustenance.
Recently, those entering
Afghanistan via the Spin Boldak crossing are being aided with food from KSrelief. Abdul Mutalib Haqqani of the Ministry of Refugees and Reparation expressed gratitude for KSrelief's ongoing support, noting that many returnees are children.
Aid distributed by the Afghan Red Crescent Society includes essential food items sufficient to support families for several weeks.
However, the sudden influx of returnees is overwhelming the Afghan government’s capacity to provide basic services amid crippling sanctions and a surging unemployment rate since the Taliban's ascension to power in 2021.
These returnees face the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch after many years in Pakistan.