Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry, told TOLOnews: "During this period, 24,787 families returned from Pakistan, 1,251 families from Iran, and 6 families from Turkey."
Among the returnees are not only children but also adults like Noorullah and Mohammad Amir, who have returned to their homeland for the first time and recount their painful experiences of losing shelter while living abroad.
Noorullah, deported from Pakistan, said: “We stayed at the border for two weeks, then one week in Kandahar, and now four days here in Kabul’s camp. So far, no vehicle has come to take us to our province.”
Mohammad Amir, another deportee from Pakistan, said: “Pakistani police came every day and gave us deadlines. One day they’d say we had one week, the next day they’d say three days. In the end, they forced us out.”
Mullah Gul, also deported from Pakistan, told TOLOnews: “Pakistan treated us harshly, took our money and phones just because I’m Afghan?”
The returnees are calling for more assistance and the creation of employment opportunities.
Abdulhamid, deported from Pakistan, said: “There are many problems. How will our children survive this winter? We need help, jobs, and shelter.”
Gulbuddin, another deportee, said: “They should increase their aid what we are receiving is not enough.”
While the returnee camp in Kabul still houses over 7,000 individuals, officials of the Islamic Emirate have called on neighboring countries to stop the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.