Escalating Middle East Tensions Force Afghan Families to Return Home, UNICEF Warns of Child Vulnerability

Kathmandu. Increasing conflict and instability in the Middle East are forcing Afghan families residing in Iran to return to their homeland. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has stated that the condition of children accompanying these large numbers of returnees is becoming extremely precarious. According to UNICEF, many families arriving at border areas appear extremely tired, anxious, and in need of basic support.

The number of Afghan families returning from Iran has significantly increased recently at various entry points, including the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province in western Afghanistan. Since most families were forced to travel suddenly, they lack adequate arrangements for food, healthcare, or safe shelter. Especially young children, pregnant women, and the elderly are more affected due to the long and arduous journey.

Tajuddin Oyewale, UNICEF Representative for Afghanistan, stated that mothers arriving at reception centers, along with their children, are extremely exhausted and under mental duress. According to him, many children are suffering from physical and mental problems due to the long journey, lack of food, and unsafe conditions. He mentioned the possibility of arrival numbers increasing further and warned that if necessary support is not provided immediately, the health and safety of children will be seriously affected.

According to available data, approximately three million Afghan citizens have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries in the last year alone. The majority of these returned from Iran and Pakistan. Nearly sixty percent of the returnees are families accompanied by children. The simultaneous return of a large number of families has placed additional pressure on local communities, health services, education, and other basic services.

Afghanistan is already facing a humanitarian crisis due to economic hardship, unemployment, food shortages, and a weak health infrastructure. In such a situation, the large influx of returning families is creating further pressure on the country's limited resources. Many families are homeless and are in immediate need of shelter, food, healthcare, and sanitation materials.

UNICEF has urged the international community, donor agencies, and humanitarian aid bodies to increase support, especially for providing child nutrition, healthcare, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene materials. The organization stated that it is attempting to provide necessary health services, nutritional food, and psychosocial support to children and mothers by operating temporary aid centers at the border areas.

According to UNICEF, if timely and adequate support is not received, thousands of children could be at risk of malnutrition, disease, and insecurity. Therefore, the organization emphasized that returning families to Afghanistan require long-term support and rehabilitation programs.