MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Balkh resident Ahmad Anwar had no idea of the troubles he would face during irregular migration when he began the journey along with his wife and two children.
Narrating the tales of his troubles that he faced five years ago, Ahmad said he was compelled by economic hardship and raging insecurity to flee Afghanistan and move towards Europe. He told Salam Watandar the human traffickers traded him and his family among them multiple timed even before reaching Iran on the way to Europe.
The physical and psychological constraints he faced during this journey continue to haunt him. The Balkh resident said that after spending some days in Iran, he along with his family moved to Turkey. This was the most tragic part of his journey when after four days of hunger and thirst, he lost his four-year old daughter.
Even after the death of his daughter, young Marwa, the dejected family did manage to reach Turkey, but only to be deported back to Iran and eventually back to Afghanistan.
With a heavy heart, Anwar had no other choice rather than returning to Afghanistan with his wife and the seven-year-old son.
Now, jobless, Anwar still regrets choosing the route of irregular migration that cost him the life of his daughter besides many other hardships. He strongly recommends all of his country mates to never even think about irregular migration.
Syed Mohammad Massoud Qaderi, head of refugees and repatriation directorate in Balkh, said in this connection that all those choosing irregular migration fell prey to the human traffickers who trade these migrations among them. He said the deteriorating security and economic situation have compelled many Afghans to think about seeking refuge abroad. He said some 910 Afghans returned to Afghanistan from Europe in the past six months.
Regional head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Syed Mohammed Sami, said as long as the government is unable ensure peace and jobs for citizens, more and more people would risk their lives with irregular migration.
ENDS
