The Taliban interior ministry has confirmed that a bus carrying Afghan deportees from Iran caught fire after colliding with a truck and motorcycle in Herat province, killing all on board. With Iran intensifying deportations of undocumented Afghans, experts warn that the returnees may exacerbate Afghanistan's already strained resources and humanitarian situation.
Tragic Bus Accident Claims the Lives of Afghan Deportees in Herat
Tragic Bus Accident Claims the Lives of Afghan Deportees in Herat
A devastating bus crash in western Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of 79 individuals, predominantly Afghan migrants deported from Iran.
The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday night when a bus transporting Afghan migrants, who had been forcibly deported from Iran, collided with a truck and motorcycle on its way to Kabul. The horrific accident claimed the lives of 79 individuals, including 17 children. Ahmadullah Mottaqi, a spokesperson for the Taliban's information and culture department in Herat, confirmed the fatalities to the BBC. Reports indicate that all passengers aboard the bus perished, along with two individuals from the other vehicles involved in the crash.
The recent deportations from Iran have significantly escalated, with Iranian authorities allegedly targeting undocumented Afghans amidst a backdrop of heightened national security concerns following regional tensions. The provincial governor's spokesman, Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, reported that the migrants boarded the ill-fated bus in Islam Qala, a town near the Afghanistan-Iran border. Initial investigations by Herat police indicated that the crash was due to the bus driver's "excessive speed and negligence." As traffic accidents remain alarmingly common in Afghanistan, the country's road conditions and lax enforcement of driving regulations continue to pose risks.
Since the 1970s, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in neighboring Iran and Pakistan. Major waves of migration occurred during the Soviet invasion and following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Unfortunately, the increase in deportations has fueled rising anti-Afghan sentiment within Iran, where many refugees face discrimination. While Iranian authorities had previously provided a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave voluntarily, their more recent actions appear driven by political scapegoating rather than genuine security concerns, particularly following a brief conflict with Israel in June.
The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that over 1.5 million Afghans have returned from Iran since January, putting immense pressure on Afghanistan's already overburdened resources. As the country struggles to manage an influx of returnees, concerns mount over its capacity to support its own citizens amidst ongoing humanitarian crises. Arshad Malik, country director at Save the Children Afghanistan, emphasized the added strain on resources that this new wave of deportees brings, particularly as the nation faces the harsh consequences of international aid reductions.
