Pakistan has recently announced that undocumented foreigners residing in the country must leave by November 1, 2023, or face deportation. This decision has put 1.7 million lives at risk. 

The affected Afghans are now forced to embark on arduous journeys through rough terrain, which has left women and children particularly vulnerable to the harsh conditions and exploitation. 

With 29.2 million people in Afghanistan already in need of humanitarian support and winter quickly approaching, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is concerned that the crisis will further strain the limited resources available in the country.

How many Afghans are facing deportation from Pakistan?

Approximately 1.7 million Afghans are facing deportation from Pakistan. Everyday, 300 families are arriving in Torkham, Afghanistan, having returned from Pakistan.

These families have endured long and difficult journeys spanning several days, exposed to the harsh elements with many and forced to give up their possessions in exchange for transportation. Many, including young children, are arriving with injuries to their feet and faces as they have fallen during their travels.

In total, some 200,000 Afghans have already crossed the border from Pakistan — most are in need of immediate humanitarian support.

Two girls sit atop a small bench outside. In the background, Afghanistan's landscape is dotted with earthquake recovery supplies.
Women and children facing deportation are especially vulnerable to both the perilous cross-border journey and the humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan.
Photo: PC: Abdul Khaliq Sediqi for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

What conditions are deported Afghans experiencing?

The Afghans returning from Pakistan—many of whom have not lived there for decades—face a bleak future. The country is still reeling from decades of conflict, economic crisis and recent devastating earthquakes. Over 6.1 million people are internally displaced and living in dire conditions. 

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is exceptionally challenging and needs will likely only worsen as a harsh winter approaches. There is an urgent need for increased support from the international community at a time when funding is sharply decreasing.

The world cannot afford to lose attention on Afghanistan, which is still reeling from decades of conflict, economic crisis and recent devastating earthquakes.

A man and a woman sit together in a small tent exposed to the element as heavy snow falls around them.
Barat, 57, prepares to scrape the snow off the roof of his tent in Kabul. Winters in Afghanistan can be bitterly cold, with temperatures in Kabul dropping to -5.9°F (-21°C).
Photo: Kiana Hayeri for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

What is the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ doing to support deported Afghans?

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is providing critical support to Afghans arriving at camps at the crossing area in Torkham, Nangarhar. The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ has deployed a mobile health team that has reached over 9,500 people with emergency medical care, maternal healthcare, nutrition services and mental health support. Meanwhile, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is also delivering psychosocial support for vulnerable groups, including women and children, installing latrines and waste management sites and delivering information on the prevention of communicable diseases.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ also carried out an assessment of individuals arriving in Afghanistan’s Torkham Township. 

Key findings include:

Learn more about the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s work in Afghanistan.

Riaz holds her youngest grandson while he is examined by ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ nutrition counselor, Marwa.
Riaz accompanies two of her grandchildren, Sema, 3, and Mazhda, 2, to the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ mobile health unit in Laghman province, Afghanistan. Her grandson Mazhda is examined by Marwa, the nutrition counselor. She weighs him, measures him and uses the MUAC bracelet to determine whether or not he is suffering from malnutrition.
Photo: Oriane Zerah for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

How can I support Afghans who have been deported from Pakistan?

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ has been in Afghanistan since 1988 and works with thousands of villages across twelve provinces. More widely, we are continuing to work with local communities to manage development projects, provide safe learning spaces, community-based education in rural areas, basic health services to remote and hard to access communities and uprooted families with tents, clean water and sanitation.