KABUL (SW) – A number of families who have recently been deported from Pakistan say they are worried about the coming of winter as they do not have proper shelter, and in addition, their children are also suffering from various diseases.
Abdul Jabbar, who returned to the country with his family about 15 days ago, says that they do not have proper shelter and he and his young children live under a tent in the cold weather. Abdul Jabbar adds that his children are sick because of the cold and he does not have the ability to treat them.
Abdul Jabbar says: “Now it is bearable in the tent, but not in the cold. My child is 21 months old and his liver is damaged. We have not been helped much. 23,000 afghani was given and all of it has been spent. We can’t afford to rent a house or even find a tent.”
The newly returned families from Pakistan want the government and domestic and international aid organizations to provide them with proper shelter in addition to basic facilities.
Ahmed, another citizen who returned from Pakistan, says: “We live in a tent, we can’t afford rent and we have nothing for the winter. We do not have fuel for the heater. Our request is to cooperate with us in order to have a shelter in winter. We have returned empty-handed.”
However, officials at the Directorate of Migration and Returnees Affairs in Kandahar say that they have provided cash, blankets, tents, medical equipment and other essential items to newly returned families.
Nematullah Elfat, the head of the reunification of this directorate, told Salam Watandar: “The camp is being completed. This camp can accommodate up to 10,000 families. Those who do not have shelter may be temporarily moved to this camp. There, food, health and education facilities for their children and all kinds of other facilities are provided.”
The government of Pakistan recently decided to forcibly deport Afghan immigrants, and thousands of families have been deported from the country so far. Although a number of international organizations have criticized Pakistan’s decision and called it against international laws, but it has continued the process of forced deportation of Afghan immigrants.
ENDS
