Ghaziabad, Afghanistan — A devastating earthquake struck Kunar province recently, exacerbating the plight of families already facing extreme hardship. Local reports indicate that some families impacted by the quake were deported from Pakistan shortly before the disaster.

Mohammad Aslam, a resident of Ghaziabad, shared the tragic loss of five family members during the tremor. “Our house collapsed on us. We lost my father, two of my uncle’s sons, and two of my cousins’ children,” he recounted. The sudden collapse has left his family shattered and grieving.

The earthquake hit on Sunday, affecting a region situated near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan. Details surrounding the deportations are still emerging, raising concerns over the precarious circumstances these families faced prior to being sent back to Afghanistan.

In recent months, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to expel undocumented Afghan refugees. According to reports from the United Nations, as of March, it was noted that many Afghan refugees were being coerced into returning home, despite the significant risks posed by Taliban rule and the dire economic climate in Afghanistan.

An estimated 3.5 million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years. While the nation has historically opened its borders to those fleeing conflict, officials now argue that the sheer volume of refugees is straining public resources and posing national security concerns. This response has come amid growing tensions regarding governance and stability in the region.

The situation has drawn alarm from humanitarian organizations, which emphasize the dangers Afghans face upon returning home. Many are enduring not just the trauma of displacement but also the uncertainty of survival in a country grappling with a humanitarian crisis.

As Kunar province begins to assess the damage from the recent earthquake, attention shifts to the ongoing plight of those affected—especially families like Aslam’s, who are not only managing their losses from the quake but also struggling with the repercussions of forced return from abroad. The combination of natural disasters and political turmoil continues to test the resilience of Afghan families in these trying times.