The massive return of refugees from neighboring countries has negative social consequences

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Agha Mohammad Fayyaz, a social affairs expert, stated in an interview with Ava: In the absence of careful planning by the responsible authorities, the phenomenon of refugee return can exacerbate social, economic, and even security crises.

According to Mr. Fayyaz, the social consequences of the return of migrants are very wide and extensive and can bring crises such as increased unemployment, the growth of the number of internally displaced persons, weakness in the family economy, etc.

Referring to some consequences, this social affairs expert added: Increased unemployment is one of the inevitable consequences of the return of migrants; because the level of unemployment in the country is currently very high and the entry of more labor without creating job opportunities can lead to economic and social turmoil.

According to him, according to recent reports, in the recent decree of the Leader of the Islamic Emirate, about 90 thousand positions have been reduced from the Ministry of Education and 90 thousand positions from other departments. With the reduction of these positions, the number of unemployed people has increased and the return of migrants will also double this problem. As a result, poverty has increased and will have a destructive effect on society.

Increased pressure on public services is also another consequence of the return of migrants, which Mr. Fayyaz pointed out and said: The education and health system in the country is facing a shortage of resources. The return of refugees, especially with their families, will put additional pressure on schools, clinics and other services.

Mr. Fayyaz emphasized that the large-scale return of refugees in a short period of time could increase social and ethnic tensions, adding: "If the process of returning refugees is not managed properly and is dealt with politically and refugees are relocated to areas that are sensitive, it will lead to social and ethnic tensions. In this case, instead of strengthening national unity, we will move towards national discord."

 

Large-scale return of refugees and pressure on weak infrastructure

Abdul Razaq Adil, an expert on refugee affairs, also said in an interview with Ava that the large-scale return of refugees in the current conditions of Afghanistan could create serious and uncontrollable social crises.

According to him, if this process is not managed properly, it could lead to increased unemployment, widespread poverty, increased social tensions, large-scale internal migration, as well as severe pressure on weak infrastructure.

Adil added that in order to prevent the negative consequences of the return of refugees to the country, there is a need for detailed domestic planning and urgent international assistance. He also said that creating job opportunities, providing housing, and providing psychological and social support for returnees is very important and vital.

He called on the authorities of the Islamic Emirate, especially the Ministry of Refugees Affairs, to seriously discuss with neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan to review the process of expelling refugees and return them to their country with dignity based on a specific, timed mechanism and in coordination with the Afghan government.

 

More than 123,000 refugees return in just 22 days

This is while the spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees Affairs, in an interview with Ava, reported the intensification of the process of expelling refugees from neighboring countries and said: More than 123,000 refugees have returned to the country from Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey in the last 22 days alone.

Although Mr. Haqqani announced the Islamic Emirate’s readiness to accept refugees, distribute land, and resettle them, a joint report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the World Bank expressed concern that returnees to Afghanistan are not provided with adequate living facilities.

The report, titled “Assessment of Urgent Needs of Afghan Returnees,” states that the sudden return of these Afghans to the country has raised concerns among the international community about meeting their basic needs; particularly how this population will integrate into Afghan society in the medium and long term, while unemployment and poverty in the country have increased and public services are limited.

The findings of the report show that most of the recent returnees from Pakistan lacked identity documents, and children under the age of 15 make up a large portion of this population.

The process of expelling refugees from Iran and Pakistan has intensified even as the Iranian Ministry of Interior has recently made the renewal of the census and planning card of refugees conditional on having a citizenship ID card.

According to the decision of the Iranian Ministry of Interior in the plan to determine the duties of refugees with census and planning cards, refugees must have a citizenship ID card. This is while, according to the National Statistics and Information Administration, no identity verification team has left for Iran from Afghanistan so far. The delay in distributing ID cards has faced more problems for Afghan refugees in Iran, and every day, the influx of refugees to clarify their status at the Afghan embassy in Tehran increases.