25.05.2008 - Source: Guardian

Kabul: Drug addicted workers expelled by Iran and Pakistan are biggest problem in regard to opiates abuse; they had fled the violence of the civil war or the Taliban era with their families and became addicted to heroin abroad; treatment facilities are only available for a few ("Refugees in new Afghan drugs crisis") [ID 23256]

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

According to AIHRS and UNHCR, the large majority of returnees has returned to their place of residence before exile; reasons for refugees to not return to their place of residence before exile are lack of housing and job opportunities ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22823]

"With regard to the situation of returnees, findings from the Human Rights Field Monitoring conducted by AIHRC and UNHCR indicate that the large majority of interviewed returnees (91 percent) has returned to their place of residence before exile. Only nine percent were found to have returned to areas other than their previous places of residence in Afghanistan. Reasons provided by these returnees were lack of housing (67 percent) and job opportunities (18 percent). In terms of sources of income, 62 percent of the interviewees stated that their main source of family income is non-farm labour, and over 50 percent said that it was from daily wage labour as unskilled workers. Among those interviewees (37 percent) who stated that their main family source of income is from farm labour, 58 percent said they were landowners, whereas 11 percent were daily wageworkers. Among those interviewees who stated they had a job (65 percent), 60 percent said that their average daily income is less than 50 Afghani (US $ 1) per day."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Land-ownership central to income-generating and sustaining livelihoods; large numbers of returnees are landless; land often occupied by powerful local commanders or members of the majority ethnic group ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22827]

"Given the centrality of land-ownership in income-generating and sustaining livelihoods, the large numbers of returnees who claim to be landless, either because they never owned land or because they were forced to sell it or abandon it prior to fleeing the country, poses an obstacle to return. Given instances of illegal occupation of Government-land and the difficulties in determining with certainty whether land is Government-owned or not, a general freeze on the allocation of Government-land has been ordered by Presidential Decree. Exceptions are possible to obtain, in the context of urban housing, through the High Commission on Urban Development and Housing, but no formal criteria for housing schemes have been developed as yet.

The limited size of land holdings is another land-related problem. This is particularly the case for returnees whose families have grown in exile and the land they own is no longer sufficient to cover their needs.

The livelihood of many landless Afghans is dependent on sharecropping arrangements, which some find difficult or impossible to ensure and re-negotiate. A number of returnees have reported such arrangements to have become more exploitative, thereby reducing their levels of income.

Land occupation and confiscation of land by powerful local commanders or members of the majority ethnic group in areas of return has been reported by returnees or stated as an obstacle to return. Returnees, therefore, face difficulties in recoverying property upon return from exile. A particular feature of such land occupation is the use of traditional pastureland for cultivation purposes, thereby depriving or seriously jeopardizing the return of refugees and IDPs, whose livelihoods were based on animal husbandry."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Data on voluntary and forcibly returned Afghans; since 2002, some 3.9 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan facilitated by UNHCR ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22924]

"Since 2002, some 3.9 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan facilitated by UNHCR: from exile in Pakistan (3.05 million); Iran (some 848,000); and countries in Central Asia, Europe or further afield (13,091). In addition to such facilitated return some 1.1 million returned spontaneously from Pakistan (more than 302,000) and Iran (more than 841,000). More than 439,000 returned forcibly from Pakistan (5,631) and Iran (433,578) which makes the total return from Pakistan, Iran and other countries 5.3 million.

According to the latest statistical information, nearly four million Afghans continue to reside in neighbouring countries: (2.15 million) in Pakistan; 920,000 in Iran; and 286,000 Afghans remain in other countries."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Family, community and tribal structures constitute the main protection mechanism for returnees; therefore, it is not safe for returnees to return to places other than places of origin due to security reasons like arbitrary detention and killings based on ethnic origin ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22928]

"The traditional family and community structures of the Afghan tribal system constitute the main protection and coping mechanism. The support provided by families, extended families and tribes is limited to areas where family or community links exist, in particular in the place of origin or habitual residence. Return to places other than places of origin or previous residence, may therefore expose Afghans to insurmountable difficulties, not only in sustaining and re-establishing livelihoods but also to security risks. Security risks may include, inter alia, arbitrary detention and arrest, targeted killings based on ethnic rivalries and family-based conflicts. Finally, while there has been significant progress on the reintegration front of returnees to Afghanistan, the needs continue to be immense and urban centres continue to be faced with numbers of returnees, which are difficult to absorb."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Women returnees, widows and female heads of households face numerous problems, including forced evictions, forced marriages and illegal occupation of land; widows are dependent on the family-members of the late husband ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 23168]

"Women returnees, widows and female heads of households often face numerous obstacles, including forced eviction and illegal occupation of land, difficulties in claiming inheritance, increased speculation on housing and land, forced marriage of widows to ensure that land and property remain within the family, and an inability to access courts. With respect to widows, special consideration should be given to whether or not family-members of the late husband would expect her to re-marry. Traditionally, in several parts of the country, a brother of the late husband marries the widow, with or without her consent."

Document(s): Open document

11.2007 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Deteriorating security influences rehabilitation of refugees; most Afghan refugees tend to drift back to urban centres for job opportunities ("11th European Country of Origin Information Seminar; Vienna, 21 - 22 June 2007; Country Report; Afghanistan") [ID 21870]

"This situation informs the perception of Afghan refugees in camps set for closure in Baluchistan and other parts of the Pakistan border area. Many fear being returned because they do not see any security or job opportunities in Afghanistan. And if Afghans are to return in significant numbers this needs to be done in a seemly fashion that can work given the crisis in services in Afghanistan’s urban centres. Most refugees tend to drift back to urban centres for the job opportunities they provide. Deteriorating security is also militating against rehabilitation and development even in the urban centres."

Document(s): Open document

22.08.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called on the government of Pakistan not to close a refugee camp in its North West Frontier Province (NWFP) until spring 2008; Pakistani security forces have ordered over 100,000 Afghan refugees currently living in Jalozai camp to leave the site by 31 August ("Iran hangs two in volatile Iran city") [ID 20979]

Document(s): Open document

08.08.2007 - Source: ReliefWeb

Despite clear guidelines from UN to the contrary, Sweden and Denmark prepare to deport Iraqi and Afghan asylum seekers ("Iraqi, Afghan Refugees face expulsion from Scandinavia"), Autor: OneWorld International Foundation (OWIF) [ID 20974]

Document(s): Open document

07.06.2007 - Source: Washington Times

Farah, Nimroz Provinces: Nearly 100,000 Afghan migrants expelled from Iran in May 2007; mass repatriation is straining resources of Afghan government and international aid agencies operating in region ("Afghanistan ill-prepared as Iran deports thousands") [ID 20288]

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit

Report on the dilemma of second generation Afghans in Pakistan whether to return or to stay ("To return or to remain - The dilemma of second-generation Afghans in Pakistan") [ID 20689]

Document(s): Open document

17.05.2007 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Iran continues forcibly expelling large numbers of Afghan nationals; legal refugees and illegal aliens are swept up and dumped on Afghan border, many claim they were assaulted or otherwise mistreated by Iranian security forces ("Forcible Expulsions From Iran Put Pressure on Kabul") [ID 20280]

Document(s): Open document

12.05.2007 - Source: BBC News

Members of Parliament sack country's Foreign Minister for failing to stop deportation of 52,000 Afghan refugees from Iran ("Afghan FM sacked over refugees") [ID 20276]

Document(s): Open document

03.05.2007 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Vast majority of Afghan citizens (82 percent) registered in Pakistan say they have no intention of returning to their homeland in near future, according to final report on registration of more than two million Afghans living in country ("Report sheds new light on Afghan refugee community") [ID 20272]

Document(s): Open document

03.05.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Tehran has expelled tens of thousands of Afghans from Iran since mid-April 2007 in a move Iranian authorities say is aimed at repatriating 1 million unregistered Afghan refugees by March 2008 ("Afghan Refugees Allege Abuse From Iran Repatriation") [ID 20274]

Document(s): Open document

29.04.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Afghanistan calls on neighbouring Iran to stop repatriating tens of thousands of Afghan refugees, saying the destitute country could not afford to resettle them ("Afghanistan asks Iran not to force out Afghan refugees"), Autor: AFP [ID 20267]

Document(s): Open document

04.2007 - Source: British Agencies Afghanistan Group

Total number of Afghan refugees who had been processed to receive assistance under the voluntary repatriation programme since 2002 had reached 3.009.484 ("BAAG Afghanistan Monthly Review; April 2007") [ID 20269]

"UNHCR reported on 9th April that the total number of Afghan refugees who had been processed to receive assistance under the voluntary repatriation programme since 2002 had reached 3,009,484. This is made up of more than 1.56 million in 2002, 343,074 in 2003, 383,598 in 2004, 449,520 in 2005, 133,015 in 2006 and 135,182 to date in 2007. The number this year is relatively high because Afghans who did not register with the Pakistan Government, during the registration process conducted between October 2006 and February 2007, were given until 15th April to return if they were to benefit from UNHCR’s assistance package. The Pakistan Government has also stated that Afghans without Proof of Registration documents will be treated as illegal immigrants and will, therefore, be subject to “the relevant national laws”. However, by the deadline, only 205,977 had returned out the 400,000 who were estimated by the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad to have not registered. The figure of three million who have been processed by UNHCR to return needs to be set against the fact that considerable numbers of Afghans have entered Pakistan since 2002 to look for work. It will be important to establish to what extent the 2.1 million Afghans who now possess Proof of Registration documents will be able to work and whether Afghans will, in the future, find it as easy to cross into Pakistan to work as they have done hitherto. If not, the consequences for the survival strategies of households across Afghanistan will be serious."

Document(s): Open document

03.2007 - Source: British Agencies Afghanistan Group

Acceleration in the number of Afghans returning from Pakistan over the previous weeks ("BAAG Afghanistan Monthly Review; March 2007") [ID 19608]

"UNHCR advised on 29th March that there had been an acceleration in the number of Afghans returning from Pakistan over the previous weeks. This was attributed, in part, to an increase in the cash grant paid to each returnee, from $30 to $100. A further factor cited was that those who had not registered with the Pakistan Government were given until 15th April to return, if they were to benefit from UNHCR’s assistance package. More than 38,000 had returned since the Voluntary Repatriation Programme restarted on 1st March."

Document(s): Open document

03.2007 - Source: British Agencies Afghanistan Group

Acceleration in the number of Afghans returning from Pakistan over the previous weeks ("BAAG Afghanistan Monthly Review; March 2007") [ID 19608]

"UNHCR advised on 29th March that there had been an acceleration in the number of Afghans returning from Pakistan over the previous weeks. This was attributed, in part, to an increase in the cash grant paid to each returnee, from $30 to $100. A further factor cited was that those who had not registered with the Pakistan Government were given until 15th April to return, if they were to benefit from UNHCR’s assistance package. More than 38,000 had returned since the Voluntary Repatriation Programme restarted on 1st March."

Document(s): Open document

13.02.2007 - Source: ReliefWeb

To root out Taliban, Pakistan to expel 2.4 million Afghans ("To root out Taliban, Pakistan to expel 2.4 million Afghans"), Autor: The Christian Science Monitor [ID 18792]

Document(s): Open document

11.12.2006 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Lack of economic and social rights presents the main obstacle for returnees ("Afghanistan; Update") [ID 18387]

"Der Mangel an wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Rechten stellt das Haupthindernis für eine langfristige Integration sowohl für interne Vertriebene als auch für RückkehrerInnen dar. RückkehrerInnen lassen sich meist in den grossen Städten nieder. Sie sehen sich neben der unsicheren Lage zumeist mit Arbeitslosigkeit, fehlenden Unterkunftsmöglichkeiten, mangelnder Gesundheitsversorgung und einem nur unzureichenden Schulsystem konfrontiert.Zusätzlich werden RückkehrerInnen sehr oft Opfer von Menschenrechtsverletzungen."

Document(s): Open document

04.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

Report on afghan returnees from Pakistan to Nangarhar province (sociodemographic structure of the interviewees, refuge in Pakistan, return to Afghanistan) ("Case Studies Serien - Afghan Returnees from NWFP, Pakistan, to Nangarhar Province (Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit)") [#48625],  [ID 2679]

Document(s): Open document

29.09.2005 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Recent arrival of 21,000 Afghan families from Pakistan placed additional strain on aid agencies in providing adequate humanitarian assistance ("Recent refugee influx ups pressure on aid agencies") [#37142],  [ID 2680]

Document(s): Open document

02.09.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Afghanistan has signed the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol ("Afghanistan signs 1951 Refugee Convention (UNHCR)") [#36153],  [ID 2681]

Document(s): Open document

06.2005 - Source: Informationsverbund Asyl e.V.

Human Rights situation and humanitarian issues against the background of plans for deportations from Germany (report based on a fact-finding mission by German lawyers and judges in March and April 2005; in German) ("Rückkehr nach Afghanistan - Unter welchen Umständen können Flüchtlinge zurückkehren?") [#33204],  [ID 2682]

Document(s): Open document

26.11.2004 - Source: UN General Assembly

Report focused on political developments, security situation (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, police and justice reform) human rights situation, health and nutrition, voluntary repatriation and reintegration ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security - Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan A/59/581 S/2004/925") [#27496],  [ID 2683]

"64. Reports indicate that returnees did not face marked discrimination in terms of access to basic social services, though they experienced occupation or confiscation of their land and related abuses such as extortion, illegal taxation or forced recruitment. Beginning next year, UNHCR will work more intensively with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission on return and human rights monitoring to enhance and expand the current returnee monitoring exercise."

Document(s): Open document

11.2004 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Lack of security and access to employment among the main reasons why refugees do not wish to return ("The political conditions, the security and human rights situation in Afghanistan; Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul, Afghanistan 20 March – 2 April 2004") [#27424],  [ID 2684]

"The UNHCR explained that the majority of refugees who have repatriated from Pakistan have returned to Kandahar or Kabul. A large group of Afghans who remain in Pakistan come from the provinces of Khost, Logar and Paktia. These groups do not wish to return. The source was of the opinion that it is due to the poor security situation, the continued coalition offensive and the Taliban infiltration in the respective provinces.
The UNHCR found that the lack of disarmament of militia groups is hindering repatriation. It is still difficult for refugees to go back to the southern regions. Nevertheless, the source expected that repatriation to Kabul would remain at the same level this year as in 2003. The source found that the conditions for repatriation to Bamian are better this year than in 2002 or 2003, which among other things is due to the work of the PRT unit in Bamian.
The source was of the opinion that refugees who are considering repatriation are more concerned with the difficulties in finding employment than with the uncertain security situation. The source mentioned that access to land has become more and more difficult for repatriated refugees. Some of the refugees can rent land by paying a large part of their income to the landowners, but at the same time this implies that they remain in great poverty and are heavily indebted.
The IOM explained that the lack of accommodation and work is one of the main reasons why Afghan citizens do not wish to return to Afghanistan. The organization pointed out that the lack of accommodation is one of the main problems in Kabul and other large towns in the country. The organization explained that Kabul was originally constructed for 500,000 (five hundred thousand) people but today 3 million (three) people live there.
The AIHRC had become aware of a case in which a Dutch citizen of Afghan origin was seriously mistreated because he did not want to pay a bribe, which was large enough. The source mentioned that it can be difficult for Afghans to return to Afghanistan. They are often regarded as western orientated, and it has caused hostile feelings within the community that Afghans from abroad have occupied several important positions in the government and administration. In the point of view of the source it can be difficult for the Afghans who have lived abroad to return to the provinces unless they are protected by the local warlord in the region. Afghans who return to their country are not even welcome in Kabul."

Document(s): Open document

21.09.2004 - Source: UN General Assembly

Returning refugees and resettled IDPs are often the victims of serious human rights violations ("Report of the independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan A/59/370") [#28465],  [ID 2685]

"71. As these individuals return to the country, whether to their original homes or to new settlement areas, they face an array of problems and, as highly vulnerable populations, they are often the victims of serious human rights violations. Returning refugees and resettled IDPs are commonly subjected to acts of violence, including killing; arbitrary arrest and detention; illegal occupation and confiscation of their land by warlords, commanders and others; forced labour, extortion, illegal taxation and other abusive economic practices; discrimination and persecution based on ethnic identity; and sexual violence and gender-related discrimination.
72. There are thousands of reported cases of returnees being subjected to these violations in many communities. One such case, which UNHCR has verified and brought to the attention of the independent expert, is that of approximately 200 Hazara families (about 1,000 individuals) displaced from Daikundi over the last decade by local commanders and now living in Kabul. Some members of the community arrived during the past year, having fled ethnically based persecution, including the expropriation of land and property, killings, arbitrary arrests and a variety of acts of severe intimidation perpetrated by warlords and local commanders who control the Daikundi districts and who are directly linked to a major political party whose leader occupies a senior governmental post. Some of the displaced families have petitioned the Ministry of the Interior, AIHRC, UNAMA and UNHCR, requesting intervention on their behalf. The newly appointed governor has pledged to tackle the ongoing human rights violations and the monopoly of power by warlords and commanders in the region. However, the fact that the main protagonists reportedly enjoy the support of a senior member of the Government means that a satisfactory solution is highly unlikely unless there is concerted and meaningful pressure exerted by the international community in tandem with internal actors."

Document(s): Open document

20.08.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

The majority of the refugees, forced by the Pakistani government to flee four camps in Southern Waziristan, ended up in the dangerous southern Afghan province of Paktika, beyond the reach of relief agencies ("Little Aid for Refugees Forced Out of Pakistan") [#24918],  [ID 2686]

Document(s): Open document

13.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

9 Afghan men arrested after a hijacking incident at Stansted Airport have been given the right to live in the UK; Immigration Appellate Authority had ruled that the men would be in danger of attack from members of the Taliban if they were deported ("Afghans win right to stay in UK") [#23939],  [ID 2687]

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

A repatriation process run by UNHCR to enable Afghan refugees in Pakistan to return to their homeland, has been expanded to include the south-western city of Quetta ("UNHCR repatriation programme extended to Quetta") [#20463],  [ID 2688]

"A repatration process run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) to enable Afghan refugees in Pakistan to return to their homeland, has been expanded to include the south-western city of Quetta, according to an agency official.

“UNHCR resumed its repatriation operations in Quetta on Tuesday. About 31 families, comprising 174 individuals, were sent to Afghanistan on Tuesday after they underwent validation tests at the Iris Verification Centre (IVC) in Quetta,” Asif Shahzad, a UNHCR public information official, told IRIN in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The UNHCR repatriation process, under which about 1.9 million refugees have been repatriated from Pakistan since it started in 2002, was suspended in November last year, following the murder of a UNHCR worker in Afghanistan.

The process re-started on 2 March across Pakistan, after UNHCR officials said they had received assurances from the governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan about stricter security arrangements.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

18.02.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

A voluntary repatriation programme for Afghan refugees, run by UNHCR, that was suspended in November following the murder of a staff member in Afghanistan, will resume operations in March ("UNHCR to resume Afghan repatriations from March") [#19455],  [ID 2689]

"[...]The programme, which has assisted about 1.9 million Afghans to return home from Pakistan since early 2002, is expected to help about 400,000 more refugees to repatriate during 2004, a UNHCR press statement said.

It was suspended following the murder of Bettina Goislard, a UNHCR staffer, in the southern Afghan city of Ghazni by gunmen, following months of increasing violence against humanitarian workers in Afghanistan, the statement added.

The decision to resume repatriation came after UNHCR took additional security precautions for its staff and received assurances from the governments of both Afghanistan and Pakistan that they are combating militants who have targeted aid workers as part of a campaign against the interim government of Afghanistan. Control in the border areas of both countries has been tightened, the press release statement maintained.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

29.12.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

The Afghan ambassador to Australia denied allegations that up to 10 asylum seekers sent home had been killed ("Afghan government denies rejected refugees killed on return (AFP)") [#18405],  [ID 2690]

"SYDNEY, Dec 29 (AFP) - The Afghan ambassador to Australia Monday strongly denied suggestions here that asylum seekers sent home had been killed, and threatened legal action against those making such claims.
The claims surfaced in a row over around 46 asylum seekers who have been on hunger strike since December 10 in protest against being held on the Pacific island of Nauru.

They are among 284 asylum seekers on the island who have failed in their bids to be granted refugee status.

Australian Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has refused to step in to resolve the hunger strike, instead urging the men to return to their home country.

Federal politician Peter Andren has said he had received e-mails from several refugee advocates alleging that up to 10 detainees who had been returned to Afghanistan had been killed.

"There are suggestions that some of those already sent back have been executed on their return and I'd like the government to investigate that one and to ensure these people are safe and secure and treated humanely in Australia until such times as they can return to their country," he said.

Afghan ambassador Mahmoud Saikal released documents Monday attesting to the location of all 20 asylum seekers who arrived in Kabul December 3 and denied they had been persecuted, killed or executed.

He said that unless such allegations were substantiated, he would initiate legal action against those making claims. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

03.12.2003 - Source: UN General Assembly

Conditions amenable to the return of refugees and internally displaced persons generally exist in the north, though in several districts adequate security conditions are still lacking ("Report of the Secretary General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (A/58/616)") [#18064],  [ID 2691]

"40. The persecution and forced displacement of minority groups in the north and west, particularly of Pashtuns, led to the establishment in October 2002 of the Return Commission for the North. A recent mission to Faryab, Samangan, Balkh, Jowzjan and Sar-i-Pul provinces by the Return Commission Working Group determined that conditions amenable to the return of refugees and internally displaced persons generally exist in the region, though in several districts adequate security conditions are still lacking. Understandably, many internally displaced persons in the south indicated their unwillingness to return to their areas of origin in the north unless security can be guaranteed, impunity for commanders ended and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration implemented."

Document(s): Open document

30.09.2002 - Source: ReliefWeb

Kabul ("BAAG Afghanistan Monthly Review; Sept 2002"), Autor: British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG) [#12269],  [ID 2692]

"A particular difficulty in assessing the level of vulnerability in Kabul arising from refugee return is knowing to what extent houses are affected by overcrowding as families move in with relatives. Similarly, it is difficult to know how many of those who emerge from the ruins of southern Kabul to shop in the new bazaars that are springing up are suffering privations."

Document(s): Open document

30.09.2002 - Source: ReliefWeb

Shomali Valley ("BAAG Afghanistan Monthly Review; Sept 2002"), Autor: British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG) [#12269],  [ID 2693]

"Of greater significance is the population of 97,051 which is recorded as having returned to Parwan, where the Shomali Valley is situated. Given the high level of destruction of both houses and agricultural infrastructure as a result of the scorched earth strategy adopted by the Taliban in the Shomali Valley and the fact that the assistance community is only able to provide for a small proportion of the returning population, we may anticipate significant levels of hardship for many families over the coming months, particularly those who do not have relatives in Kabul with whom they can stay in order to try and earn a living."

Document(s): Open document