Afghans rally as Iran\’s migrant return surge
Afghan Volunteers Rally to Assist Those Forced to Return from Iran
Mass Migration Continues to Surge
Since the beginning of the year, the border with Iran has seen an alarming flow of Afghans being deported or expelled. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of crossings at the Islam Qala gate peaked at 50,000 on July 4 and has regularly reached 30,000 on several days.
Grassroots Mobilisation in the West
In the western region, community members have stepped up, largely thanks to donations forwarded by Afghans residing in Europe and North America.
- Fatima Rezaei – a 22‑year‑old journalist who travels over 100 kilometres from Herat to the border, distributing baby wipes and sanitary towels to women gathered under a tent with around a dozen children.
- Hosna Salehi – an unemployed volunteer who works with her parents’ charitable organisation, Khan-e-Meher, to provide infant formula and other essential aid.
Stakeholders’ Statements on the Crisis
Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan’s High Commission for Refugees, emphasized that the government must acknowledge the crucial contribution of volunteers. “The government cannot solve these problems alone, and the efforts of citizens must be applauded.”
Taliban authorities claim they provide financial assistance upon arrival and are building new towns specifically for returning Afghans, though they have not yet specified a timeline for these projects.
Personal Narratives of Returnees
- Hussein, 33, spent more than ten years in Iran and now returns with work and livelihood challenges. “We’re worried about finding work,” he stated. He was moved by the assistance he encountered on the Afghan side of the border and appreciated the “hand extended” by volunteers.
- Omid Haqjoo, 27, highlighted the scarcity of volunteering culture in Afghanistan, where half the population lives below the poverty line. “We are trying to promote it… to provide the support that is missing,” he remarked while preparing food in large cooking pots.
Reflections on Volunteering and Community Support
After a day of heat in the humanitarian tents at Islam Qala, Salehi felt strengthened by a “life lesson.” “If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can,” she said. “And when I go home and think of all the fellow Afghans who smiled at me and prayed for me, that’s enough for me.”
Key Takeaways
- Evolving migration flow – over 1.6 million Afghans, including many children, have returned from Iran.
- Community driven assistance – volunteers are actively addressing the urgent needs of returnees.
- Government role – limited, with a reliance on citizen effort to alleviate the crisis.
