Faced with the scale of Iran’s returns, Afghans organize solidarity: News

At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghan compatriots forced to return to the country. Furthermore, For the 22 -year -old woman as for other volunteers. In addition, it is impossible to remain passive in the face of the extent of the returns.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million Afghans. Nevertheless, many of which have crossed the border after being expelled or chased from Iran, which notably accuses them of raising unemployment and crime.

At the border post of Islam Qala. Nevertheless, peaks of 30,000 people were recorded on certain days, or even 50,000 people on July 4, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

International organizations are trying, with the Taliban authorities, to identify arrivals and help migrants. faced scale iran’s returns, afghans In addition, But the former are faced with massive budget cuts. Therefore, the latter struggle to accompany these Afghans who often left everything behind and who find a country stuck in poverty.

Then residents of the region are mobilizing, partly thanks to donations sent by Afghans in Europe or North America.

“No matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don’t have much but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we get there,” says Fatima Rezaei.

This journalist for a local television channel travels more than 100 km to go to the border from his city of residence. Herat. Cardboard in her hands, she distributes baby wipes there and hygienic towels to women surrounded by a dozen children.

“It’s about our responsibility to be by their side,” she said. “The government is trying to help but it faced scale iran’s returns, afghans is not enough.”

– Hand stretched –

Hosna Salehi, unemployed, work in the charitable organization of her parents, Khan-E-Meher, to show “humanity”.

“These days our compatriots need our sympathy and empathy. We are forced to give what we can, whatever it is a little or a lot,” she told AFP.

Sometimes she convinces friends to accompany her, to distribute infantile milk in particular.

“Some women with young children were trying to breastfeed but because of stress, did not have enough milk,” she explains.

The surge of solidarity “makes us proud,” comments Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of the High Committee for Refugees, Public body.

“The government cannot solve these problems alone,” he admits, “and citizens’ efforts must be welcomed.”

The Taliban government says they give money on arrival. prepare cities dedicated to the Afghans back, without faced scale iran’s returns, afghans however indicating when they are ready.

In Herat. a big city closest to the border, some live in parks under tents offered by inhabitants, under the most precarious conditions.

– “start from scratch” –

“The only thing that worries us is to find work. ” said Hussein, 33, including more than 10 who have passed in Iran.

“There they told us that our papers were no longer valid. We had a good job. now we have to find a job and start from scratch,” said the father of two children, moved by the support found on the Afghan side of the border.

“They really helped us. handed us down,” he said on a bus that has to bring him free of charge to Kabul, about 1,000 km away.

In large pans, Omid Haqjoo is preparing food before meeting faced scale iran’s returns, afghans migrants to distribute it, despite her handicap in the leg.

In Afghanistan. where half of the population (48 million) lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, “there is not so much culture of volunteering”, regrets the 27 -year -old man. “But we try to promote it (…) to provide support that is lacking.”.

After a day in the heat. the hubbub of the humanitarian tents of Islam Qala, Hosna Salehi feels reinforced by a “life lesson”.

“If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can,” said the young Afghan. “And when I get home. think of all these fellow citizens who smiled at me and pray for me, that is enough for me”.

Posted on July 29 at 5:17 a.m., AFP

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