European countries, including Germany, have started the deportation of Afghans after a nine-month break over the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, a batch of 40 Afghan asylum-seekers arrived in Kabul from Germany after Berlin resumed deportation flights to Afghanistan, Deutsche Welle reported.
The German government has deported 937 asylum-seekers to Afghanistan since December 2016, according to a Deutsche Welle report.
On Wednesday, 14 Afghan asylum seekers returned to the country from Austria and Bulgaria, according to news agencies' report.
According to German news agency dpa, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Bulgaria and Hungary have already taken steps to deport Afghan asylum seekers who could not get asylum in those countries.
Amidst the continuation of violence in the country, the International Organization for Migration has said that over 820,000 Afghans have returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan so far this year.
TOLOnews on Friday interviewed a family in Kabul who faces a failed attempt to migrate to Europe through Iran and Turkey. Members of the family said that Adila, head of the family, her bride and daughters left the country 47 days ago to Iran and from there to Turkey to reach Europe. But they said that Adila is gone missing during their journey to Turkey.
Adila’s relatives said that her bride and daughters are in Iran but she is missing so far.
“We don’t know about here whether she is alive or dead. We urge Iran and Turkey to inform us about her whereabouts,” said Ramin, Adila’s relative.
“They went to Iran by plane and from there to Turkey from illegal ways. She was ill and wanted to be treated there,” said Latifa, Adila’s sister.
Thousands of Afghans every year are leaving the country for various reasons, including violence, poverty and lack of employment to reach Europe through illegal ways.
“We have at least 6.5 million refugees, asylum seeker and migrants in at least 70 countries. Our call from host countries is to help Afghan refugees,” said Abdul Basit Ansari, spokesman for Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.
“Measures should be taken to address their problems,” said Zabihullah Farhang, head of media office of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.