Concerns over suspension of humanitarian aid at Islam Qala border prompt UN to suspend services
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has suspended all services to returning migrants due to the obstruction of female staff at the Islam Qala border in Herat province.
The organization emphasized that more than 60 percent of returnees from Iran are women and children, and that out of every ten returnee families, three are headed by women.
Without the presence of female employees, it is not possible to provide decent and respectful services to women and children.
The UN statement said: “Humanitarian partners are engaging with the authorities on the ground and hope to find solutions that will allow operations to resume in a safe, principled manner, taking into account cultural sensitivities.”
Meanwhile, those deported from Iran complain about economic problems and demand that humanitarian aid not be politicized.
In recent months, the Islam Qala border has witnessed the return of approximately 1.2 million Afghan refugees from Iran, most of whom have been deported empty-handed.
