UN Urges Pakistan to Halt Afghan Refugee Deportations Amid Deadly Earthquake

After the deadly earthquake in Nurgal district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, a few teenagers sit on the rubble. September 3, Reuters.

In the wake of a catastrophic 6.0-magnitude earthquake that has left over 2,200 people dead in eastern Afghanistan, the United Nations is urging Pakistan to immediately suspend its mass deportation campaign targeting Afghan refugees.   The quake, which struck a mountainous region near the border, has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis, prompting calls for a halt to the involuntary returns.

The Earthquake's Impact

The earthquake hit late Sunday night, with its epicenter located in a remote area near the border with Pakistan.³ The most severe destruction occurred in Kunar province, where the majority of casualties were reported.⁴ The shallow quake caused widespread landslides and leveled villages, with many homes, constructed from mud and wood, collapsing on sleeping families.⁵ Initial reports of 1,400 deaths have been tragically updated, with the official death toll now exceeding 2,200 and over 4,000 injured, according to Taliban authorities.

Rescue and relief efforts have been severely hampered by the rough terrain and blocked roads. Aid workers and rescuers have been forced to walk for hours to reach isolated villages, while helicopters have been deployed to air-drop commandos for rescue operations.⁸ The United Nations and other aid agencies have warned that the casualty figures are likely to climb further as search teams reach more remote communities.

UN's Appeal to Pakistan

Amid the devastation, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi issued a direct appeal to the Pakistani government.¹ He called for a pause in the "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan," stressing that those being forced to return are "now returning to a disaster zone."

Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for more than four decades, but citing security concerns and a surge in militant attacks, Islamabad resumed mass deportations in 2023. The latest phase of the crackdown, which set a September deadline, targets an estimated 1.3 million refugees with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. According to UN figures, more than 1.2 million Afghans have already been forced to leave Pakistan, with over 443,000 of those deportations occurring this year. The deportation process has accelerated in recent days, with thousands crossing the border daily.

Analysts suggest the expulsions are aimed at pressuring the Taliban government in Kabul, which Pakistan accuses of harboring militants. The Taliban denies these allegations.

Mounting Humanitarian Crisis

The earthquake has compounded an existing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which is struggling with a weak economy and a significant reduction in international aid since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Aid agencies are facing a critical funding gap, with the UN's humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan receiving only a fraction of its required funding for the year.This lack of resources is severely limiting the scale and speed of the response.

The Taliban government, while appealing for international assistance, has faced criticism for its policies on women and girls, which have contributed to the cutback in international aid. The UK, for example, has pledged emergency funding but is channeling it through aid organizations to avoid giving it to the Taliban administration.

The UN and other humanitarian groups are working to provide emergency shelter, medical supplies, food, and water to survivors, but the needs are immense. The situation is particularly dire for those who have recently been deported from Pakistan and are returning to a country that lacks the infrastructure and resources to support them.