Tehran/Herat – Iran has deported about 1.8 million Afghans, estimated to be crossing the Islam Qala border this year, ranking as one of the highest rates of repatriation of Afghans in recent times.
The governor of the Khorasan Razavi province was quoted in Iranian media on Monday by Tasnim News Agency, which confirmed the scale of the returns was huge. The official added that not only was his province deporting migrants, but also 11 other provinces in Iran.
This influx has been described by local outlets as the largest mass return of Afghan migrants in recent years and the sheer strain the number of returns imposes on the resources and infrastructure of Afghanistan.
Regional Tensions Cited
Iranian officials pointed to regional tension, particularly Israeli military operations in recent months, as contributing to the rise in returns.
Although the process of repatriation is still ongoing, reports indicate that the daily returns have receded to the level recorded during the summer holiday.
Humanitarian Concerns Mount
The ongoing and massive deportations are raising alarm with observers warning that this could result in serious humanitarian problems. Such problems involve the straining of the already small border facilities and the decline of access to basic services, including food, shelter, and medical services, to the returnees.
Humanitarian organizations have called on the Iranian authorities to make the process safe and orderly and to offer proper care to the weak Afghan families involved in this immense and continuing repatriation process.
