"At the Islam Qala border, the relentless wind carries stinging dust that clings to skin as temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), transforming the ground into a scorching furnace. Families huddle in narrow strips of shade, children protecting their faces with scarves as they await assistance. For many, this harsh landscape represents their first glimpse of home after years in exile."
"Now I have nothing no job, no home, and no one to turn to, says Maryam, a widow with two children, who had lived in Iran for six years. Despite suffering from kidney problems, her greatest pain comes from watching her 15-year-old son, Sadeq, search for work instead of attending school. He keeps his educational aspirations secret to spare his mother additional worry. For Maryam, this unspoken dream weighs heavier than any physical ailment."
More than four million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since September 2023, with almost 1.5 million returning in 2025 alone. Nearly 350,000 Afghans were displaced during the first four months of the year, including internal displacement and cross-border movements. The mass movement is driven by worsening economic conditions and escalating climate impacts. Afghans in Iran held vital roles in construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, and their departure has left workforce gaps. Returning families face acute uncertainty, high temperatures and harsh conditions at border crossings, rising unemployment pressures, and growing humanitarian needs.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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