Farah: Returnees from Pakistan seek assistance

FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): Refugees returning from Pakistan to western Farah province complain about the lack of shelter and other facilities, but officials say a committee has been tasked with addressing their problems.

Since the start of November, Pakistan has forcibly deported more than 500,000 Afghan refugees and over 13,000 returning families have been sent to different provinces.

Muhammad, one of the repatriates, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We don’t have gas and firewood. Our children are sick and desperately need government support”.

Muhammad Akbar, another returnee, complained camp officials provided them with food items and tents. However, the returnees do not have warm clothes and fuel.

He said: “We need mattresses, blankets, gas and firewood. The Afghan Red Crescent Society provided us with aid, but the process has stopped now.”

Akbar said since the returnees did not have jobs to buy winter items, the government should support them with a sense of urgency.

Mufti Ahmad Shakir, head of the Refugees and Repatriation Department, said so far around 19,000 families had returned to Farah and 53 of them had been dispatched to their localities.

“NGOs claim all necessary services are provided to the camp residents, such as food items, fuel, blanket and other necessary things”: Shakir added.

According to the director, NGOs will support the returnees with essential items, including shelter.

hz/mud