OCHA Reports School and Market Closures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Border Tensions
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stated that ongoing clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan are worsening the already critical situation of Afghan returnees. The organization expressed concern that rising tensions could severely disrupt resettlement processes and access to basic services for these individuals.
Simultaneously, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that due to military tensions between the two countries, schools and markets in several areas of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have been closed. According to OCHA, the daily activities of residents in these regions have been significantly disrupted.
OCHA also added that the transfer and distribution of humanitarian aid have been suspended in some of these areas, a measure that could directly affect vulnerable families.
The clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have now entered their eighth day, with no sign yet of de-escalation or a peaceful resolution. The ongoing situation has increased concerns about its humanitarian and security consequences.
Meanwhile, many Afghan returnees inside Afghanistan continue to face economic difficulties and shortages of essential services. Critics have repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to take effective and transparent measures to manage border crises and ensure the security of citizens.
