Afghanistan disburses aid to thousands deported from Pakistan
Taliban-led Afghanistan government distributes over $2.1 million to deported families as returnees from Pakistan face housing and job crisis
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Afghan authorities have distributed over 145 million afghanis ($2.1 million) in cash assistance to nearly 20,000 families deported from Pakistan since April, as the country struggles to manage the growing humanitarian fallout from forced repatriations.
According to TOLOnews, the aid was disbursed at the temporary Omari Camp in Torkham, a key border transit point in eastern Afghanistan.
Abdul Hadi Akhundzada, head of the camp’s financial committee, said the payments varied based on family size. Small families received 2,000 afghanis ($29) per person, while larger households were granted a flat 10,000 afghanis ($145).
The deportations, part of Pakistan’s intensified crackdown on undocumented Afghan migrants, have left thousands displaced with no shelter, income, or access to basic services.
Many of those expelled had lived in Pakistan for years, working in low-wage sectors such as hospitality, construction, or butchery.
“We left everything behind,” said Nik Mohammad, one of the deportees.
“Some of us were working as butchers, others in hotels or doing labor work. But things worsened quickly and migrants were pushed out.”
Another returnee, Safiullah, said that he was forced to abandon his small business in Pakistan. “We have no home here and don’t know what we will do next. For now, we’re going to Mazar-e-Sharif to stay with relatives,” he said.
The sudden influx of returnees is adding pressure to Afghanistan’s fragile economy and overstretched aid infrastructure.
In response, the Taliban-led government has launched housing initiatives in several provinces. According to officials, the Settlement Committee — led by the Housing and Urban Development Ministry — has begun constructing residential towns to accommodate returning migrants.
While financial assistance offers temporary relief, displaced families say more comprehensive support is needed — including long-term housing, employment opportunities, and reintegration programs to rebuild lives after years in exile.
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