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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan refugee deportations round-up: 8/15-8/22/2025 |
| 2025-08-22 |
Hundreds of Afghans in Pakistan Arrested and Deported After Germany Halts Resettlement Program August 15, 2025 Either do or don’t do, but don’t leave those people in limbo. [KhaamaPress] Around 400 Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan, with several deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, sparking urgent calls from rights groups to halt removals and resume transfers.Hundreds of Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan following Berlin’s suspension of its resettlement program for vulnerable Afghans. Humanitarian groups warn that some detainees have already been deported to Afghanistan. According to a Politico report on Thursday, August 14, Pakistani authorities have detained around 400 Afghans in recent weeks, with several forcibly returned. The arrests have intensified fears for those left stranded. Germany’s decision to freeze the program, which was designed to relocate Afghans at risk under Taliban rule, has left more than 2,200 people in legal limbo in Pakistan. Among them are women’s rights defenders and members of the LGBTQ community who face severe persecution if returned. The humanitarian organization Kabul Luftbrücke said it has received “dozens of reports” of deportations and continues to get urgent calls for help. It estimates that 1,700 women and children are among those in immediate danger. UN warns of funding shortages amid mass deportations of Afghan Refugees August 17, 2025 [KhaamaPress] UNHCR warns its funds are depleting as 2.2 million Afghans are expelled from Iran and Pakistan, urging urgent aid amid worsening poverty and dire humanitarian crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that its budget is running out as the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan continues. In a statement on Sunday, August 17, the agency appealed for urgent international assistance to sustain its operations supporting Afghan returnees. According to UNHCR figures, since the start of this year, more than 2.2 million Afghans have been deported from Iran and Pakistan. The UN highlighted that poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan are rising sharply, with more than half of the population dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. Other UN bodies have also voiced concern over the collective expulsions, stressing that many returnees face restrictions and threats under Taliban rule upon their return. Iran to Deport Two Million Undocumented Afghan Migrants August 18, 2025 [KhaamaPress] Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, announced that a new program is underway to return around two million undocumented Afghan nationals to their country with “dignity and respect.” Speaking to reporters in Mashhad on Monday, he said the first phase will focus on undocumented Afghans who entered Iran without legal documents. He noted that more than six million Afghans currently live in Iran, stressing that managing such a large population requires serious national and international cooperation. According to the minister, most Afghan nationals are expected to leave through the Khorasan Razavi border, which has long been a key crossing point between the two countries. The announcement comes as Pakistan also prepares to begin its own repatriation campaign for Afghan migrants starting in September, highlighting mounting regional pressure on Afghan refugees. And one happy story: 30 Afghan Female Students Will Be Relocated from Qatar to CanadaAugust 19, 2025 [KhaamaPress] Thirty Afghan female students stranded in Qatar will be relocated to Canada, as the University of Regina and a rights group secure funding to support their continued education. The University of Regina, in partnership with a Canadian human rights organization, is working to secure funding to bring 30 Afghan female students from Qatar to Canada. These students have been stranded in Qatar since U.S. financial aid for their studies was cut, leaving them in a state of deep uncertainty about their future. According to Global News, published Tuesday, August 19, the university has proposed transferring the students to Saskatchewan, where they could continue their education in a supportive environment. Fariba Rezaei, founder of the Vancouver-based group Women Leaders of Tomorrow, said her organization has raised between $140,000 and $500,000 toward the tuition fees required by the University of Regina. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |