On July 9, 2025, Herat residents and local NGOs intensified efforts to support over 300,000 Afghan deportees returning from Iran through the Islam Qala border in recent weeks, as reported by local authorities. The surge in deportations, driven by Iran’s tightened migration policies following regional tensions, has strained resources, prompting community-driven initiatives to provide food, water, and transportation to returnees.
Charity organizations, alongside the Taliban-led government and international agencies like the UNHCR, have mobilized to assist deportees, many of whom are dual Iranian-Afghan nationals. The UN reported that 393,000 Afghans were deported from Iran and Pakistan in the first five months of 2025, highlighting the scale of the migration challenge.
Local official Mohammad Nabi stressed the need for sustainable reintegration programs, as many deportees face unemployment and housing shortages. NGOs are establishing temporary shelters and medical camps, while the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, visited Herat to assess the situation, indicating government involvement. Despite these efforts, concerns remain about the capacity to support the growing number of returnees amid Afghanistan’s economic constraints.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 10th, 2025
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