Benyamin Bariz

In remote villages of western Herat province, poverty, lack of inadequate infrastructure and long distances from health centres are daily realities and the absence of medical services has become one of the most serious daily challenges.

Amid a sharp rise in deportation of Afghan migrants from neighbouring Iran, many women have come back empty-handed with painful memories and they are now facing uncertainty about their future.

Following multiple drowning incidents in the Pashtan Dam, the governor of western Herat province has instructed relevant officials to ensure that all necessary safety measures are implemented with immediate effect to protect the lives of citizens.

An art exhibition titled “Rainbow” has been opened to promote visual arts and expand painting culture in western Herat province.

Nearly two billion afghanis were spent on addressing the situation of returnees in the country during the past one month, an official said on Thursday.

More than 5,000 returnees from Iran have been registered to be introduced to employment agencies for job opportunities in western Herat province, officials said on Tuesday.

Some gardeners in western Herat province say figs, especially yellow variety, has yielded good harvests, showing a 10 percent increase, and asked the government to support them in expanding cultivation and exporting fruits.

Reconstruction work has been initiated on six school buildings at a cost of nearly 16 million afghanis in western Herat province, an official announced on Tuesday.

The Deputy Spokesman for Islamic Emirate during a visit to the National and International Saffron Exhibition in western Herat province said Afghanistan was no longer just a consumer country, but had achieved self-sufficiency in 131 products.

Hundreds of residents in western Herat province have launched “Sympathy and Cooperation Caravan” campaign to transport returnees from Islam Qala port to Herat city for free amid widespread deportations from Iran.

Acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Maulvi Hamdiullah Akhundzada says Afghan returnees from Iran would be transferred to their respective provinces without any delay or shortcomings.

The once-thriving silk thread industry in western Herat province has nearly vanished, with only one workshop left standing out of more than 250 that once buzzed with life and craftsmanship.