The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported the return of 5,000 unaccompanied children from Iran to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, also stated that 150,000 individuals have returned via the Islam Qala crossing just this month.

He said: “In the month of June only, 150,000 returns have been recorded across the border in Islam Qala. 25% of these are children, many of whom are families, female-headed households, and in a very, very difficult situation. For us as UNICEF, we've seen more than 5,000 separated and unaccompanied children, and that comes with all the vulnerability of exploitation, abuse, and the lives that these children could be subjected to. Together with other partners on the ground at the reception center in Islam Qala, we are providing critical vaccination services."

Poverty and economic hardship, along with other factors, have pushed Afghan children and teenagers to neighboring countries, especially Iran.

In Iran, these children and teenagers are often forced to work to survive, far from their families. Now, among the deportees from Iran, there are children who have crossed back into Afghanistan alone via the Islam Qala border.

Murtaza, one of the deportees from Iran, said: “We studied up to sixth grade here, then stopped and went to Iran. We were deported again. Our hope is that the work and economic situation improves so we can continue our education in our own country.”

Nazeer Ahmad, another deportee, said: “During the five years we spent in Iran, we were harassed a lot. Along the way and in different places, they mistreated us and took extra money from us.”

This comes with only seven days remaining before Iran’s deadline for the departure of Afghan migrants from its territory.