KANDAHAR CITY (SW) – A number of Afghan refugees forcibly returned from Pakistan told Salam Watandar that they have returned to the country after decades, but they do not have shelter for permanent residence.
Expressing their concern for the upcoming winter, they want the caretaker government to provide them with permanent shelter as soon as possible.
Naqibullah, an Afghan refugee who returned to Kandahar, said: “Our livelihood have been damaged, our land has been destroyed, and now we have come here. We want support. I thank the Islamic Emirate for providing us with these facilities, but winter is coming, we have no houses, no tents, nothing, we are just spending time there, we have nothing here.”
Officials of the Islamic Emirate, looking at the problems and concerns of the returning Afghan refugees, say that they have prepared all the basic facilities for the refugees for now.
Kandahar Refugees and Returnees Department official, Nimatullah Alfat said that they have provided accommodation, tents, food, water and medical equipment for the refugees in Spinboldak district and they have given 10,000 afghanis to each family.
Walijan Badam, Director of Kandahar Refugees and Returnees Affairs, says that some areas in Arghandab, Daman and Panjawai districts have been set aside for the returning Afghans for permanent residence, and around 12 thousand refugees will be given land.
He said: “We are now at the threshold of basic services. We have a plan for permanent accommodation for returned refugees in Panjawai, Arghandab and Daman districts, which will soon be implemented. The Emirate will also implement this process in other provinces.”
Bilal Karimi, the Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, had earlier said that 15,270 families have returned to the country since the 1st of November.
According to him, from September 17 to November 6, 2023, 35,000 families with a total of 200,000 people have returned to the country through Torkham alone.
ENDS
