Latest news with #FatimaRezaei
Kuwait Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Afghans show solidarity as migrants return from Iran
More than 1.6 million Afghans have returned after being driven out of Iran ISLAM QALA, Afghanistan: At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghans forced to return, unable to passively stand by as the deportation crisis grows. The 22-year-old is one of many Afghan volunteers rallying to help their compatriots, despite having little themselves. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million Afghans, including many children, have returned after being deported or driven out of Iran, which accuses them of pushing up unemployment and crime. 'It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don't have much, but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we manage,' said Rezaei. The number of crossings at the Islam Qala border has reached 30,000 on several days, peaking at 50,000 on July 4, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In response, residents of the western region have mobilized, partly thanks to donations sent by Afghans living in Europe or North America. A journalist for a local television channel, Rezaei travels over 100 kilometers (62 miles) to reach the border from her hometown of Herat. From a stack of cardboard boxes, she distributes baby wipes and sanitary towels to women gathered under a tent and surrounded by around a dozen children. 'It is our responsibility to stand by their side,' she said. 'The government tries to help, but it's not enough.' International organizations are helping to register migrants but face massive budget cuts. Meanwhile, Taleban authorities struggle to support the influx of Afghans who have often left everything behind and returned to a country mired in poverty. Unemployed Hosna Salehi volunteers with her parents' charitable organization, Khan-e-Meher, to distribute aid, such as infant formula. 'Some women with young children tried to breastfeed but didn't have enough milk due to stress,' she told AFP. 'Our fellow Afghans need our support right now. We have a duty to give what we can, no matter if it is a little or a lot.' The show of solidarity 'makes us proud', said Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan's High Commission for Refugees. 'The government cannot solve these problems alone,' he acknowledged, 'and the efforts of citizens must be applauded'. The Taleban government says it provides money upon arrival and is establishing towns dedicated to returning Afghans, though it does not specify when they will be ready. In Herat, the nearest major city to the border, some in the most precarious circumstances have been living in parks in tents donated by residents. Some said they were having to rebuild their lives after returning home. 'The only thing we're worried about is finding work,' said Hussein, 33, who spent more than 10 years in Iran. 'There, they told us our papers were no longer valid. We had good jobs, now we need to find work and start from scratch,' said the father-of-two, who was moved by the support he encountered on the Afghan side of the border. 'They really helped us and extended a hand,' he said as he waited for a free bus to take him the nearly 1,000 kilometers to the capital Kabul. In Afghanistan, where half the population of around 48 million lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, 'there isn't much of a culture of volunteering', said 27-year-old Omid Haqjoo, as he prepared food in vast cooking pots. 'But we are trying to promote it... to provide the support that is missing,' he added. After a day of heat in the humanitarian tents at Islam Qala, Salehi felt strengthened by a 'life lesson'. 'If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can,' she said. 'And when I go home and think of all the fellow Afghans who smiled at me and prayed for me, that's enough for me.' – AFP
The Star
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Afghans show solidarity as migrant returns from Iran surge
ISLAM QALA, Afghanistan: At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghans forced to return, unable to passively stand by as the deportation crisis grows. The 22-year-old is one of many Afghan volunteers rallying to help their compatriots, despite having little themselves. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million Afghans, including many children, have returned after being deported or driven out of Iran, which accuses them of pushing up unemployment and crime. "It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don't have much, but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we manage," said Rezaei. The number of crossings at the Islam Qala border has reached 30,000 on several days, peaking at 50,000 on July 4, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In response, residents of the western region have mobilised, partly thanks to donations sent by Afghans living in Europe or North America. A journalist for a local television channel, Rezaei travels over 100 kilometres (62 miles) to reach the border from her hometown of Herat. From a stack of cardboard boxes, she distributes baby wipes and sanitary towels to women gathered under a tent and surrounded by around a dozen children. "It is our responsibility to stand by their side," she said. "The government tries to help, but it's not enough." International organisations are helping to register migrants but face massive budget cuts. Meanwhile, Taliban authorities struggle to support the influx of Afghans who have often left everything behind and returned to a country mired in poverty. Unemployed Hosna Salehi volunteers with her parents' charitable organisation, Khan-e-Meher, to distribute aid, such as infant formula. "Some women with young children tried to breastfeed but didn't have enough milk due to stress," she told AFP. "Our fellow Afghans need our support right now. We have a duty to give what we can, no matter if it is a little or a lot." The show of solidarity "makes us proud", said Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan's High Commission for Refugees. "The government cannot solve these problems alone," he acknowledged, "and the efforts of citizens must be applauded". The Taliban government says it provides money upon arrival and is establishing towns dedicated to returning Afghans, though it does not specify when they will be ready. In Herat, the nearest major city to the border, some in the most precarious circumstances have been living in parks in tents donated by residents. Some said they were having to rebuild their lives after returning home. "The only thing we're worried about is finding work," said Hussein, 33, who spent more than 10 years in Iran. "There, they told us our papers were no longer valid. We had good jobs, now we need to find work and start from scratch," said the father-of-two, who was moved by the support he encountered on the Afghan side of the border. "They really helped us and extended a hand," he said as he waited for a free bus to take him the nearly 1,000 kilometres to the capital Kabul. In Afghanistan, where half the population of around 48 million lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, "there isn't much of a culture of volunteering", said 27-year-old Omid Haqjoo, as he prepared food in vast cooking pots. "But we are trying to promote it... to provide the support that is missing," he added. After a day of heat in the humanitarian tents at Islam Qala, Salehi felt strengthened by a "life lesson". "If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can," she said. "And when I go home and think of all the fellow Afghans who smiled at me and prayed for me, that's enough for me." - AFP
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Afghans show solidarity as migrant returns from Iran surge
At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghans forced to return, unable to passively stand by as the deportation crisis grows. The 22-year-old is one of many Afghan volunteers rallying to help their compatriots, despite having little themselves. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million Afghans, including many children, have returned after being deported or driven out of Iran, which accuses them of pushing up unemployment and crime. "It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don't have much, but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we manage," said Rezaei. The number of crossings at the Islam Qala border has reached 30,000 on several days, peaking at 50,000 on July 4, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In response, residents of the western region have mobilised, partly thanks to donations sent by Afghans living in Europe or North America. A journalist for a local television channel, Rezaei travels over 100 kilometres (62 miles) to reach the border from her hometown of Herat. From a stack of cardboard boxes, she distributes baby wipes and sanitary towels to women gathered under a tent and surrounded by around a dozen children. "It is our responsibility to stand by their side," she said. "The government tries to help, but it's not enough." International organisations are helping to register migrants but face massive budget cuts. Meanwhile, Taliban authorities struggle to support the influx of Afghans who have often left everything behind and returned to a country mired in poverty. - 'We have a duty' - Unemployed Hosna Salehi volunteers with her parents' charitable organisation, Khan-e-Meher, to distribute aid, such as infant formula. "Some women with young children tried to breastfeed but didn't have enough milk due to stress," she told AFP. "Our fellow Afghans need our support right now. We have a duty to give what we can, no matter if it is a little or a lot." The show of solidarity "makes us proud", said Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan's High Commission for Refugees. "The government cannot solve these problems alone," he acknowledged, "and the efforts of citizens must be applauded". The Taliban government says it provides money upon arrival and is establishing towns dedicated to returning Afghans, though it does not specify when they will be ready. In Herat, the nearest major city to the border, some in the most precarious circumstances have been living in parks in tents donated by residents. - 'Extended a hand' - Some said they were having to rebuild their lives after returning home. "The only thing we're worried about is finding work," said Hussein, 33, who spent more than 10 years in Iran. "There, they told us our papers were no longer valid. We had good jobs, now we need to find work and start from scratch," said the father-of-two, who was moved by the support he encountered on the Afghan side of the border. "They really helped us and extended a hand," he said as he waited for a free bus to take him the nearly 1,000 kilometres to the capital Kabul. In Afghanistan, where half the population of around 48 million lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, "there isn't much of a culture of volunteering", said 27-year-old Omid Haqjoo, as he prepared food in vast cooking pots. "But we are trying to promote it... to provide the support that is missing," he added. After a day of heat in the humanitarian tents at Islam Qala, Salehi felt strengthened by a "life lesson". "If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can," she said. "And when I go home and think of all the fellow Afghans who smiled at me and prayed for me, that's enough for me." str-cgo/sw/ecl/jfx/lb Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Afghan volunteers aid returning migrants amid Iran deportation crisis
ISLAM QALA: At the Iran-Afghanistan border, volunteers like Fatima Rezaei distribute essential supplies to returning Afghans amid a surge in deportations. Over 1.6 million Afghans, including children, have been forced back this year, with Iran citing unemployment and crime concerns. Rezaei, a 22-year-old journalist, travels 100 kilometres from Herat to assist despite limited resources. 'It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don't have much, but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we manage,' she said. The UNHCR reports daily crossings at Islam Qala reaching 30,000, peaking at 50,000 on July 4. Local efforts, supported by diaspora donations, have mobilised to meet the overwhelming need. Rezaei hands out baby wipes and sanitary towels to women under makeshift tents, stating, 'It is our responsibility to stand by their side.' Hosna Salehi, volunteering with her parents' charity Khan-e-Meher, provides infant formula to mothers struggling due to stress-induced milk shortages. 'Our fellow Afghans need our support right now. We have a duty to give what we can,' she told AFP. Taliban authorities acknowledge the crisis but admit limited capacity. Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan's High Commission for Refugees, praised civilian efforts: 'The government cannot solve these problems alone.' Returnees like Hussein, a father of two, face rebuilding lives after losing jobs in Iran. 'They really helped us and extended a hand,' he said, awaiting transport to Kabul. With half of Afghanistan's population in poverty, volunteer Omid Haqjoo noted the rarity of grassroots aid efforts but emphasised their growing importance. 'We are trying to promote it... to provide the support that is missing,' he said. Salehi reflected on the day's work: 'If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can.' - AFP
Int'l Business Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Afghans Show Solidarity As Migrant Returns From Iran Surge
At the border with Iran, Fatima Rezaei distributes food and hygiene products to Afghans forced to return, unable to passively stand by as the deportation crisis grows. The 22-year-old is one of many Afghan volunteers rallying to help their compatriots, despite having little themselves. Since the beginning of the year, more than 1.6 million Afghans, including many children, have returned after being deported or driven out of Iran, which accuses them of pushing up unemployment and crime. "It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of money or not. I don't have much, but with the help of Afghans here and abroad, we manage," said Rezaei. The number of crossings at the Islam Qala border has reached 30,000 on several days, peaking at 50,000 on July 4, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In response, residents of the western region have mobilised, partly thanks to donations sent by Afghans living in Europe or North America. A journalist for a local television channel, Rezaei travels over 100 kilometres (62 miles) to reach the border from her hometown of Herat. From a stack of cardboard boxes, she distributes baby wipes and sanitary towels to women gathered under a tent and surrounded by around a dozen children. "It is our responsibility to stand by their side," she said. "The government tries to help, but it's not enough." International organisations are helping to register migrants but face massive budget cuts. Meanwhile, Taliban authorities struggle to support the influx of Afghans who have often left everything behind and returned to a country mired in poverty. Unemployed Hosna Salehi volunteers with her parents' charitable organisation, Khan-e-Meher, to distribute aid, such as infant formula. "Some women with young children tried to breastfeed but didn't have enough milk due to stress," she told AFP. "Our fellow Afghans need our support right now. We have a duty to give what we can, no matter if it is a little or a lot." The show of solidarity "makes us proud", said Ahmadullah Wassiq, director of Afghanistan's High Commission for Refugees. "The government cannot solve these problems alone," he acknowledged, "and the efforts of citizens must be applauded". The Taliban government says it provides money upon arrival and is establishing towns dedicated to returning Afghans, though it does not specify when they will be ready. In Herat, the nearest major city to the border, some in the most precarious circumstances have been living in parks in tents donated by residents. Some said they were having to rebuild their lives after returning home. "The only thing we're worried about is finding work," said Hussein, 33, who spent more than 10 years in Iran. "There, they told us our papers were no longer valid. We had good jobs, now we need to find work and start from scratch," said the father-of-two, who was moved by the support he encountered on the Afghan side of the border. "They really helped us and extended a hand," he said as he waited for a free bus to take him the nearly 1,000 kilometres to the capital Kabul. In Afghanistan, where half the population of around 48 million lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, "there isn't much of a culture of volunteering", said 27-year-old Omid Haqjoo, as he prepared food in vast cooking pots. "But we are trying to promote it... to provide the support that is missing," he added. After a day of heat in the humanitarian tents at Islam Qala, Salehi felt strengthened by a "life lesson". "If I was able to help volunteer, I think everyone can," she said. "And when I go home and think of all the fellow Afghans who smiled at me and prayed for me, that's enough for me." Afghan volunteers have mobilised to help their compatriots driven over the border from Iran AFP Taliban authorities struggle to support the influx of Afghans who have often left everything behind and returned to a country mired in poverty AFP Around half of Afghanistan's population of around 48 million lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank AFP
