Afghanistan Times
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The United Nations has declared a “humanitarian emergency” at Afghanistan’s western border as tens of thousands of Afghan migrants flood in from Iran ahead of a July 6 deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. Iran’s mass deportation campaign, intensified after the recent Iran-Israel conflict, has seen daily expulsions surge to over 30,000 individuals, many of whom report being accused of espionage and facing harsh conditions.
At the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, more than 43,000 people crossed on July 1 alone, according to the UNHCR. In June, over 250,000 Afghans returned from Iran, with many arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs . UNICEF has expressed concern that a quarter of these returnees are children, many of whom are malnourished and traumatized.
The influx is overwhelming Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure, with makeshift camps lacking adequate shelter, sanitation, and medical care. Aid agencies warn that the crisis could destabilize a country already grappling with entrenched poverty, unemployment, and climate change-related shocks .
The UN has called for urgent international support to address the crisis, urging countries not to forcibly return Afghans and to provide assistance to those in need . As the deadline approaches, the situation remains dire, with thousands of vulnerable individuals facing an uncertain future.
