RASC News Agency: Relief organizations for refugees in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in view of the evolving situation in both neighboring countries, express concern about the living conditions and livelihoods of refugees, asserting that these refugees will require humanitarian assistance until July of the current year. In a report released by relief organizations on Monday, April 15th, it is noted that 720,000 undocumented migrants and 50,000 holders of the “PoR” card on both sides of the border are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
According to the report, approximately 180,000 undocumented returnees, including those with specific protection concerns such as survivors of gender-based violence, survivors of torture, individuals at risk of forced or early marriage, and victims of trafficking, may be among them. The organization further adds in its report that 7,200 undocumented returnees will be unaccompanied children or separated from their families.
A consortium of relief organizations, composed of UN agencies, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, Save the Children, and some other organizations, emphasizes that aid will be provided in border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan on a phased basis and based on vulnerabilities. Based on this report, what has been considered for these returnees from Pakistan is 10,000 kabuli rupees, the country’s common currency, including food items, cash, health counseling, vaccination, and medicine as needed.
The report specifies that the humanitarian program of this consortium will provide temporary care for unaccompanied or separated children, and then family reunification services will be provided to them. Additionally, for each PoR card holder, they receive a cash assistance of $375 and $700 for reintegration, and $550 is allocated for those with special needs. The consortium of relief organizations at the Pakistan border has stated that over $24 million is needed for undocumented returnees, and for those with PoR cards, it is essential to provide $8 million.
Previously, the consortium of relief organizations estimated that 1.3 million undocumented Afghanistani migrants live in Pakistan, with 70% of them returning to Afghanistan during the past four months of 2023 and the rest during 2024. This comes as Pakistan implemented the first phase of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Scheme” in October last year and gave a 30-day deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country; otherwise, they will be detained and forcibly deported.
Officials of the Taliban government in the Ministry of Returnees have stated that in the past solar year, 575,000 Afghanistani migrants have returned from Pakistan. It is worth mentioning that the new government of Pakistan has announced the implementation of the second phase of repatriating Afghanistani migrants and added that the scheme includes holders of Afghanistan “ACC” citizenship cards as well.
