Doctors Without Borders Warns Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan Sparks Humanitarian Crisis
Doctors Without Borders has issued a warning that the widespread forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, occurring amid the winter season, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, putting the lives of thousands of vulnerable individuals at risk.
On Wednesday, January 6, the organization released a report stating that many of the deported refugees, upon their return, have been settled in temporary camps lacking adequate shelter, with severely limited access to essential services such as healthcare, drinking water, and food.
According to the report, the forced deportation does not only affect undocumented migrants but also includes holders of Afghan citizenship cards and Temporary Registration Cards (POC). Doctors Without Borders added that as winter intensifies, living conditions for these families have become increasingly difficult and concerning.
Zhou Weibing, head of the Doctors Without Borders mission in Pakistan, said many Afghan families remain trapped in a state of constant fear of deportation and forced return to Afghanistan. He emphasized that the international community must urgently provide humanitarian aid and protective measures to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
The aid organization stressed that the lack of shelter, healthcare services, and sufficient nutrition could turn winter into a “silent killer” for Afghan refugees—a situation that directly endangers the lives of children, women, and other vulnerable individuals.
