‘Just Sitting In The Dirt’: Afghans Forced From Pakistan Struggle To Find Shelter

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Afghanistan’s Taliban government is struggling to provide food, water, sanitation, and tents for thousands of Afghans who have crossed over the border from Pakistan. Many returnees came with only the clothes on their backs after a November 1 deadline to leave Pakistan passed.

Taliban security personnel direct Afghan returnees after they crossed over into Afghanistan near the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan on November 5. An estimated 300,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan in recent weeks following Islamabad's order that 1.7 million undocumented refugees and migrants leave the South Asian country or face arrest or expulsion.

1Taliban security personnel direct Afghan returnees after they crossed over into Afghanistan near the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan on November 5.

An estimated 300,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan in recent weeks following Islamabad’s order that 1.7 million undocumented refugees and migrants leave the South Asian country or face arrest or expulsion.

The Taliban has established temporary camps for the returnees near the Torkham border crossing and promised to assist them. But many returnees complain of a lack of tents, food, water, and sanitation. "We are just sitting in the dirt," Nasrallah told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "There is nothing here. There are no toilets, and the [Taliban] government has given us nothing."

2The Taliban has established temporary camps for the returnees near the Torkham border crossing and promised to assist them. But many returnees complain of a lack of tents, food, water, and sanitation.

“We are just sitting in the dirt,” Nasrallah told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi. “There is nothing here. There are no toilets, and the [Taliban] government has given us nothing.”

Afghans wait to be processed. The immediate need for many is to find housing ahead of the harsh winter months in Afghanistan, a mountainous country where temperatures can drop to as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius.

3Afghans wait to be processed.

The immediate need for many is to find housing ahead of the harsh winter months in Afghanistan, a mountainous country where temperatures can drop to as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius.

Afghans -- some with only the clothes on their backs -- arrive in Afghanistan after crossing the border at Torkham on November 4. The cash-strapped Taliban government, which is under international sanctions, is struggling to absorb the returning refugees.  

4Afghans — some with only the clothes on their backs — arrive in Afghanistan after crossing the border at Torkham on November 4.

The cash-strapped Taliban government, which is under international sanctions, is struggling to absorb the returning refugees.

 

Aid agencies have warned that the influx of hundreds of thousands of Afghans from Pakistan will aggravate the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. They have called for more international funding to address the needs of the returnees.
5Aid agencies have warned that the influx of hundreds of thousands of Afghans from Pakistan will aggravate the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. They have called for more international funding to address the needs of the returnees.
Afghan returnees wait to get registered under the watchful eye of the Taliban.  

6Afghan returnees wait to get registered under the watchful eye of the Taliban.

 

The hard-line Islamists are also setting up additional temporary camps for the returnees, including in the southern province of Uruzgan.
7The hard-line Islamists are also setting up additional temporary camps for the returnees, including in the southern province of Uruzgan.
Afghan returnees ride atop a truck as they cross into Afghanistan.  

8Afghan returnees ride atop a truck as they cross into Afghanistan.

 

A large number of Afghans are in need of humanitarian aid after losing their possessions and livelihoods in Pakistan.
9A large number of Afghans are in need of humanitarian aid after losing their possessions and livelihoods in Pakistan.
 Afghan children gather water near a truck.  

10 Afghan children gather water near a truck.

 

Another truck laden with personal items waits to be unloaded.  

11Another truck laden with personal items waits to be unloaded.

 

Tents on the Afghanistan side of the Torkham border crossing. The UN estimates that over 29 million Afghans -- out of a population of around 40 million -- need humanitarian assistance.
12Tents on the Afghanistan side of the Torkham border crossing. The UN estimates that over 29 million Afghans — out of a population of around 40 million — need humanitarian assistance.
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