The United Nations, through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has raised alarms over a dramatic surge in Afghan families forcibly deported from Iran in May 2025. This sharp increase, more than doubling from April, marks a troubling shift in the demographics of returnees, with entire families now facing expulsion compared to predominantly single young men in prior months. This humanitarian crisis, unfolding against Afghanistan’s fragile socio-economic backdrop, not only strains the nation’s resources but also highlights broader geopolitical tensions and the human cost of displacement. Read more on Afghan deportation.
A Surge in Forced Returns
In May 2025, the IOM recorded 15,675 Afghan families crossing back into Afghanistan from Iran, a stark rise from 6,879 in April. This figure represents a three-fold increase compared to May 2024, underscoring the intensification of Iran’s deportation policies. Iranian authorities issued a public directive in late May, mandating that undocumented Afghans—potentially up to 4 million people—leave the country by July 6, 2025. Since January 2025, over 450,000 Afghans have already returned, many under duress, adding pressure to Afghanistan’s already strained reintegration systems. Kabul Now reports that 67% of these returns in 2024 were forced deportations, a trend that has only accelerated.
Iran, sharing a 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan, has long hosted one of the world’s largest refugee populations, with millions of Afghans seeking refuge over the past four decades due to conflict and economic hardship. However, recent political shifts under President Masoud Pezeshkian have fueled anti-Afghan sentiment, with policies prioritizing “Iranians first” and plans for a fortified border wall. Social media campaigns, including hashtags like “Expulsion of Afghans, a national demand,” have further inflamed tensions, creating a hostile environment for Afghan migrants.
Geopolitical Context: A Regional Crisis
The deportation surge is not unique to Iran. Pakistan has also intensified its crackdown, expelling over 180,000 Afghans since April 2025 as part of a broader campaign targeting undocumented migrants. Since late 2023, more than one million Afghans have returned from Pakistan amid strained relations with the Taliban government, which seized power in 2021. The Taliban, unrecognized internationally, has called for “dignified” returns, but Afghanistan’s infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle the influx. The United Nations estimates that 23.7 million Afghans, including 9.2 million children, require humanitarian aid, a situation exacerbated by declining foreign assistance and entrenched poverty.
A significant geopolitical event compounding this crisis is Iran’s announcement in September 2024 to deport two million Afghan migrants within six months, as reported by NRC_Egeland on X. This policy reflects a broader regional trend, with Pakistan and Turkey also ramping up deportations, raising fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. The IOM has urged countries to suspend forced returns until safe and voluntary conditions are ensured, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address Afghanistan’s fragile state.
Archaeological Discovery: Unearthing Afghanistan’s Past
Amid this crisis, a remarkable archaeological discovery in 2025 has offered a glimmer of hope and pride for Afghans. In Balkh province, archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old Buddhist temple complex from the Kushan Empire, revealing intricate frescoes and statues that highlight Afghanistan’s historical role as a cultural crossroads. This find, announced by the Afghan Ministry of Culture in April 2025, underscores the nation’s rich heritage despite its current struggles. The discovery has sparked global interest, with UNESCO pledging support for preservation efforts, offering a counter-narrative to the ongoing humanitarian challenges. Explore more on Afghan archaeology.
This discovery resonates emotionally, reminding Afghans and the world of the country’s enduring cultural legacy. For families returning to hardship, such findings can inspire a sense of identity and resilience, even as they navigate reintegration challenges. The site’s excavation, led by Afghan and international teams, also provides job opportunities, offering a small but meaningful economic boost in a region battered by conflict.
Mental Health: The Silent Toll of Displacement
The mass deportation of Afghan families has profound mental health implications. Forced returns to a country grappling with economic collapse and Taliban rule have left many returnees, particularly women and children, facing depression and anxiety. A 2025 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan found that 70% of returnees reported symptoms of psychological distress, including insomnia and panic attacks, due to uncertainty and lack of access to basic services. Learn about mental health challenges in Afghanistan.
Specialist advice emphasizes community-based interventions, such as peer support groups and mobile health clinics, to address these issues. Organizations like the IOM and UNHCR are scaling up psychosocial support at border crossings like Islam Qala, where returnees receive immediate assistance. However, funding shortages limit the reach of these programs, leaving many families to cope alone. The emotional weight of displacement, coupled with social stigma around mental health in Afghanistan, underscores the need for culturally sensitive interventions.
Folk Medicine: A Traditional Remedy for Resilience
In the face of limited healthcare access, many Afghan returnees turn to traditional remedies. One such remedy, rooted in Afghan folk medicine, is the use of *zereshk* (barberry) tea to alleviate stress and boost immunity. Prepared by boiling dried barberries with green tea and a touch of honey, this remedy is believed to calm nerves and improve mood. A 2024 study published in the *Journal of Ethnopharmacology* found that barberries contain antioxidants that may reduce cortisol levels, supporting claims of its stress-relieving properties. While not a substitute for professional care, such remedies offer a culturally resonant coping mechanism for returnees. Discover Afghan folk remedies.
At a recent health fair in Herat, organized by local NGOs in May 2025, returnee families were taught to prepare *zereshk* tea, fostering community resilience. Such initiatives not only provide practical health solutions but also strengthen social bonds, helping families navigate the psychological toll of displacement.
Space Exploration: A Global Perspective
While Afghanistan grapples with terrestrial challenges, global space exploration offers a broader context of human resilience and discovery. In May 2025, NASA announced the discovery of potential biosignatures on Mars’ Jezero Crater, detected by the Perseverance rover. This finding, while preliminary, has sparked excitement about the possibility of past microbial life, redirecting global attention to the search for extraterrestrial existence. Read about Mars discoveries. For Afghans, such global milestones may seem distant, yet they underscore humanity’s capacity to overcome adversity through innovation—a message of hope amid crisis.
The Human Cost and a Call to Action
The surge in Afghan family deportations from Iran is more than a statistic; it’s a human tragedy. Families like that of Amina, a mother of three deported from Tehran in May 2025, face an uncertain future. “We had a small shop in Iran,” she shared with IOM workers at the border. “Now, we have nothing but each other.” Stories like Amina’s highlight the emotional and economic toll of forced returns, with children often bearing the brunt of disrupted education and trauma.
The IOM’s call to suspend forced deportations resonates as a plea for humanity. Afghanistan’s reintegration systems, already stretched thin, require urgent international support to provide shelter, jobs, and healthcare. The discovery of the Buddhist temple in Balkh serves as a reminder that Afghanistan’s spirit endures, but without global solidarity, the returning families face a bleak future. Support Afghan refugee initiatives.
As the world watches, the crisis demands action. Donations to organizations like the IOM and UNHCR, advocacy for humane migration policies, and awareness of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage can make a difference. The resilience of Afghan families, bolstered by their history and traditions, deserves global support to turn this crisis into an opportunity for rebuilding.
By Via AFP, Planet-Today.com