Nangarhar Residents Alarmed by Rising Rent Prices Amid Afghan Returnee Influx

Residents of Nangarhar are expressing their concerns over the rising rent prices attributed to the significant influx of Afghan returnees from Pakistan, urging the government to take immediate action to alleviate this economic pressure.

Housing Shortages for Returnees from Pakistan

Several residents of Nangarhar have reported that the wave of Afghan migrants returning from Pakistan has led to increased demand for rental homes and consequently, soaring rental prices in the province. Many returnees entering Afghanistan through the Torkham border are settling in Nangarhar, exacerbating the economic strain on the housing market and other sectors.

Gul Miran, a resident of Jalalabad, told Radio Azadi, “Compared to the past, rent prices have skyrocketed. I now pay eight thousand Afghanis for a house, while it used to cost three thousand.” Another local, Mohammad Saeed, echoed these sentiments, noting that the rising population has negatively impacted the prices of goods. He stated, “Rent has reached five, seven, and even ten thousand Afghanis.”

Difficulties Faced by Returnees

Some Afghan returnees recently back from Pakistan are lamenting their inability to find adequate shelter. One individual remarked, “We returned around a year and a half ago, but there’s no work available, and the government has offered no assistance.” Mohammad Ali, another returnee, expressed that ongoing housing problems and unemployment are placing further strain on them.

According to officials from rental agencies in Jalalabad, housing rents have surged significantly compared to previous times. One official stated, “People are very poor, and under these conditions, rents have been raised considerably.”

What Support Do Returnees Need?

Residents of Nangarhar are calling for the relocation of returnees to their original areas to help alleviate the pressure on Nangarhar. Reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicate that over half a million people have returned to Afghanistan via Torkham, with 40% having settled in Nangarhar.

OCHA further noted that newly arrived migrants are living in dire conditions, and humanitarian organizations need to implement supportive programs for them. The organization reported that many returnees lack access to residential land and documentation necessary for their children’s education.