The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued a recent report warning that the trend of Afghan refugees being deported from various countries around the world is on the rise. According to the report, at least 22,000 Afghan refugees in European countries were ordered to leave the EU in 2025.
The organization announced on Thursday, April 30, that many countries are forcing Afghan refugees to return to a country where about 40% of the population is facing hunger, displacement due to climate change, and ongoing conflicts. This situation has raised serious humanitarian concerns.
According to the provided statistics, Italy still hosts the most Afghan refugees entering the European Union through the Balkans. The report adds that Afghans were the third-largest group of asylum seekers in the EU last year.
Alessandro Paps, the IRC official in the border town of Trieste, Italy, said that since late 2021, they have spoken with more than 30,000 Afghan refugees attempting to reach Europe via the Balkans. He stated that about one-quarter of these individuals are children.
He further added that many of these refugees face difficult conditions and serious challenges both during their migration journey and even after reaching Europe. According to him, Afghan refugees often leave their country due to poor living conditions, but they also encounter dangers such as exploitation and violence along the way.
Lisa Owen, the IRC president in Afghanistan, stated that returning Afghans to a country with such harsh living conditions has serious consequences and could further complicate the situation. She emphasized that the increased deportation of migrants from neighboring countries has deepened Afghanistan’s economic and social crises.
These warnings come amid reports of potential talks between European countries and the Taliban regarding the return of refugees. On April 20, AFP reported, citing diplomatic sources, that there is a possibility of inviting Taliban representatives for talks in Brussels.
However, Mark Lambert, a spokesperson for the European Commission, has not confirmed such a meeting or invitation and stated that contacts with Taliban officials are continuing at a technical and limited level.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
