Afghanistan Peace CampaignSome of those returning from Iran describe an atmosphere of fear and widespread panic caused by the war.
As U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian cities intensify, the return of Afghans from Iran has increased.
Some of those returning from Iran describe an atmosphere of fear and widespread panic caused by the war.
Morteza Shamsi, one of the returnees from Iran, said: “The war is ongoing in Iran and the situation is very bad. Missiles were striking every moment and people were fleeing. No one cared about anyone else.”
Another returnee, Heshmatullah Erfan, said: “People were all terrified and the movement of people leaving the cities was very high. When we were inside the camp, a missile struck near us.”
Most of these migrants have returned to Afghanistan out of fear of the war.
Nearly 2,000 people enter Afghanistan daily through the Islam Qala border crossing from Iran.
Abdul Ghani Qazizada, head of registration at the Department of Migrants and Returnees at the Islam Qala border, said: “Since Saturday, when the war began in Iran, the return of voluntary migrants, especially families, has increased. Deportations have decreased.”
Many Afghans returning from Iran are also facing psychological and mental challenges due to fear of the war.
At the Afghan Red Crescent medical center at the Islam Qala border, returnees are receiving assistance to reduce their fear and anxiety.
Bashir Ahmad Basharat, head of the Afghan Red Crescent health center at Islam Qala, said: “Due to the anxiety and pressures caused by the war in Iran, the return of migrants has increased. Many mental health patients who have returned from Iran are visiting us. They have been affected by the situations that occurred in Iran and are experiencing worry and anxiety.”
Millions of Afghan migrants live in different parts of Iran.
With the intensification of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Afghan citizens in that country have also been affected, and many are trying to return to Afghanistan to escape the war.