Afghans fleeing Pakistan after school massacre
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 7 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Afghans fleeing Pakistan after school massacre, 7 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55094044e.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 07, 2015
The mission chief for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan says that thousands of Afghans are fleeing Pakistan to avoid harassment following a Taliban attack that killed nearly 150 children at a school in Peshawar on December 16.
Richard Danziger told Reuters on February 7 that more than 22,000 undocumented Afghans crossed the border from Pakistan at Torkham in January, more than twice the figure for all of 2014.
He said almost 1,500 other Afghans were deported in January, twice as many as in December.
The IOM and other officials say Afghans living in Pakistan are reporting harassment such as raids on their homes and police coercion.
"When something horrible happens, people start taking it out on foreigners," Danziger said.
He said Afghanistan's limited resources are strained by the influx and many of those crossing from Pakistan are not receiving assistance.
Based on reporting by Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
