Afghan Returnees Face Harsh Winter Without Shelter or Jobs

Families recently returned to Afghanistan are facing serious challenges as winter approaches, including a lack of shelter and unemployment.

Winter Challenges and Unemployment Facing Afghan Returnees

As the cold season draws near, families who have returned from Pakistan and Iran are encountering significant economic difficulties and a severe shortage of shelter in Afghanistan. Many of these families, who have been back for some time, are still living in tents and temporary shelters, raising concerns about the impending harsh weather.

Faridullah, a returnee from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now residing in Nangarhar province, bears the responsibility for a family of 18 and laments the lack of preparations for the cold. He mentions that others in similar situations are equally at risk, suggesting that without urgent assistance before winter sets in, they may face a humanitarian crisis.

Complaints of Job Shortages and Lack of Shelter

Abdul Rahman, another returnee from Punjab living in Nangarhar with his family, has voiced his grievances about the scarcity of job opportunities and their precarious financial situation. He has urged the caretaker government to address their core issues by allocating land for housing and creating job opportunities.

These challenges are not confined to eastern Afghanistan. Mohammad Agha, a returnee from Iran who resides in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province, reports that the initial aid he received was spent on treating his sick children, leaving him unable to procure firewood for heating his tent.

Government and International Responses

Although the spokesperson for the caretaker government has not commented on this matter, the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has announced that over the past three years, approximately 74,000 plots of land have been distributed to returnees across 22 provinces, and this process is ongoing. However, applicants feel that the promises made regarding land have yet to be realized.

International organizations have also raised concerns about the crisis. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), stated in a meeting on November 14 that nearly seven million Afghans are grappling with severe poverty and a lack of basic services since their return. Furthermore, Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), emphasized on September 10 the pressing need for emergency shelter, winter clothing, and fuel before the onset of winter.