Over 250,000 Afghans return home in April: WHO

KABUL (Pajhwok): More than 250,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran, including about 107,000 who were deported between April 1 and April 30, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement, WHO said: “A crisis is unfolding at both major border points. The returning Afghans are exhausted, fearful, and traumatized as they face an uncertain future in a country where 22.9 million people rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs. Many are dealing with health issues, worsened by extreme poverty, food insecurity, and limited protection services.”

The health problems affecting the returnees include trauma, malnutrition, infectious diseases such as acute watery diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, as well as mental health disorders.

In coordination with other humanitarian partners, the WHO-supported Public Health (PH) team stationed at the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran has been providing essential medical services to returnees.

In April alone, around 4,500 individuals received outpatient consultations from the PH team, with about 1,400 receiving free medication. Additionally, the team provided health education to approximately 26,000 people.

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