Afghan refugees in Pakistan are skipping vital medical treatment out of sheer fear of arrest and deportation, sparking major worries from human rights groups.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says reports show sick refugees dodging hospitals across the country to avoid police harassment. Some hospitals even turn away patients without valid visas, leaving people in desperate need without help.
This hits hard for pregnant Afghan women, who fear rushing to care could land them in trouble. “These actions strip away basic human dignity and break Pakistan’s own laws on human rights, plus international promises,” the HRCP stated. They highlighted the dangers for Afghan women and girls sent back to a place rife with gender discrimination.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the global aid group, backs this up with its own findings. The threat of deportation has created a wall of fear, pushing Afghans to skip checkups and worsening their health crises. One refugee told MSF, “I can’t come to the clinic for treatment because I’ll get arrested and deported. I have to miss my visits.”
Another shared the daily terror: “Since deportations started, we’re in constant anxiety. We stay inside to avoid arrest. Families fear raids at night, and kids are really traumatized.”
Pakistan presses on with its deportation push this month, targeting about 1.4 million Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, despite pleas from global groups to stop. Officials also eye 800,000 more Afghans with citizenship cards living without legal status.
The crackdown ramps up as border crossings grow overcrowded, adding to the chaos for Afghan migrants. Aid experts warn that these mass deportations could spark economic struggles, social unrest, and even exploitation for families crossing back. Groups worldwide urge Pakistan and Afghanistan to talk it out, ensuring safe, humane handling of the refugee crisis.
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