Pakistan: Afghan refugees fear seeking medical care

Balochistan, Pakistan- “Since the deportations were announced, we live in constant anxiety,” says an Afghan refugee and father of two girls, while he visits a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Balochistan, Pakistan. He describes how Afghan refugee communities are gripped by fear. “We avoid going out due to fear of arrest. Families are afraid to … Read more

Afghanistan: Hospitals struggle with surging pediatric patient numbers

The sound of crying and beeping medical devices fills the small room. Nurses rush from bed to bed, checking vital signs. Mothers push oxygen masks onto the faces of their children. The emergency room doctor bursts through the swinging doors of the paediatric emergency room (ER) in Boost hospital in Helmand. I have 17 patients … Read more

Pakistan: Concern over planned deportation of Afghan refugees

Pakistan– Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) once again expresses deep concern for approximately 900,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders facing deportation from Pakistan. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, and those with disabilities, are disproportionately impacted by such deportations. Women and girls face especially heightened risks due to restrictive policies which limit their access to education, employment, and public … Read more