The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that the lack of sufficient opportunities for Afghan returnees could increase their vulnerability to human trafficking and exploitation.
The International Organization for Migration said in a message published on Thursday, July 30, on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, that the scale of current returns to Afghanistan exceeds the capacity to manage them without extensive international support.
Mihyung Park, the head of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in Afghanistan, said that many returnees arrive in Afghanistan with limited resources and face serious challenges in accessing livelihood opportunities, housing, and basic services.
She added that in the absence of sustainable opportunities inside the country, individuals may turn to dangerous and irregular journeys, exposing them to human trafficking, migrant smuggling, exploitation, and abuse.
The organization stressed that supporting returnees and host communities is not only a humanitarian necessity but also an action that contributes to helping Afghanistan’s stability.
