The deportation of Afghan refugees by Iran has been continuing, the Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation said, adding that more than 700,000 Afghans have returned to the country since the Islamic Emirate swept into power.
Speaking at a press conference in Herat, the deputy Minister of Refugees and Repatriation put the number of Afghans being deported by Iran between 2,000-3,000 a day.
“Since the Islamic Emirate took power, between 600,000 to 700,000 Afghan refugees have returned home, while many of them were deported by Iran,” said Mohammad Arsalah Kharotai, deputy Minister of Refugees and Repatriation.
He called on the Iran government to hold those who mistreated the Afghan refugees accountable.
“We call once again on all countries, particularly from Iran, to treat the Afghan refugees based on international norms,” Kharotai said.
Elderly women and children are among the deportees.
The Afghans refugees returning from Iran have complained about the mistreatment they faced in neighboring countries.
“The Iranians treated Afghans badly. They would beat up the Afghans,” said Daud, a resident of Ghazni, who has been deported by Iran.
“They were oppressing the Afghans. They were beating the Afghans,” said Mohammad Aauz, a resident of Herat.
Meanwhile, an Afghan charity organization in the US donated a shipment worth five million dollars to the vulnerable people in Afghanistan.
“This shipment arrived in Afghanistan. It is worth five million dollars. The shipment includes clothes, socks, blankets, jumpers and boots,” said Farhad Safi, a member of the charity. This comes as the caretaker government has recently announced a ban on illegal human trafficking.—TOLO