Afghan Returnees from Iran are Welcomed by Heat, Hunger, and Uncertainty at Islam Qala Border

Yet their worries remain, “We don’t have a house or land here,” she says. “We may stay in a shared house with my brother-in-law, but that’s only temporary. We need shelter—and I don’t know how we’ll find one.”

Sharifa’s experience is echoed by many others. Rahim and Hanifa, a couple who spent three years in Iran with their children, arrived at the camp unsure of what the future holds. “We are wanderers,” Rahim said. “What we need most is a place to live and a job to survive.” Shortly after their arrival, Hanifa lost sight of her husband and children in the crowded camp. “I was lost and panicking,” she said. “But I went to the call centre, made a call—and within minutes, I found them.” The family now hopes to resettle in Ghazni province.

Other returnees are vulnerable to misinformation and exploitation. Two sisters, Amina* and Fatima*, travelling alone, were approached by a man who offered to help. He took their documents and misled them with false promises.

“They were scared and in tears,” said one staff member who witnessed the scene. “But when they heard the announcement about the free calls, they ran over and asked to contact their brother.” After reconnecting with their family, the sisters were also guided by the help desk to the right support services. “Their faces changed,” the staffer added, “from fear to hope.” They also confronted the man and retrieved their documents—something that may not have been possible without the timely intervention. Their family later called back to thank the Help Desk for their support, saying it prevented further harm.

Thamindri de Silva, National Director of World Vision Afghanistan, described what she witnessed during her recent visit: “The needs are vast, and while services are available, they are simply not enough to provide adequate support. My heart goes out to the children. I’ve seen many sitting on pieces of cardboard, hot, thirsty, hungry, and with nowhere to go.”

She added, “Even though many people are being transported onward, a lot of them don’t know where they’re going. I’ve spoken with girls who told me their families back home have no way to support them—and they themselves have no means to get there.”

To meet this urgent need of returnees at the border, World Vision Afghanistan has set up a Help Desk and Call Centre operating daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. The centre provides vital support, including clear guidance on accessing essential services like healthcare, food, water, and sanitation, free national and international calls to help families reconnect, and internet access to enable contact through social media and messaging platforms.