Deported from Iran, 21 children join families in Faryab

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Twenty-one Afghan children, who have recently been deported by Iranian authorities into northwestern Faryab province, are handed over to their families, an official said.

Karima Baihaqi, head of the Work and Social Affairs Department, said the children aged between 12 and 15 years are residents of Sherin Tagab district.  The children left their homes due to poverty and crossed into Iran for work there.

But the children were sent back by the Iranians with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from the Iranian border to Herat province. Another NGO helped their transfer from Herat to Faryab.

She said 92 children had been deported from Iran so far this year and handed over to their families.

“Children need education and training, but the continuity of conflict and fighting in our country has forced migration, some children are forced to migrate and feed their families when they are not adult.”

Abdullah, 13, a deported boy, said he and another 15 boys started their journey to Iran 14 days earlier but got arrested by Iranian police at the border.

“After three days in jail, the Iranian police deported us back to Afghanistan,” he said.

He said had completed his 7^th class but due to insecurity and fighting their school was closed in Sherin Tagab district and his six-member family needed assistance for survival.

Abdul Sammad, the father of a deported boy, said fighting in Sherin Tagab district had been underway over the past two years and most of the residents had migrated to other areas.

nh/ma