Thousands of Afghans have been returning home from neighbouring countries in the past year with little hope and prospects. In 2007, over 360,000 returned. Under the government’s current three-year plan, all Afghan refugees are expected to come back by the end of 2009.
Many head to the capital, Kabul, to find work. But the city is bursting at the seams, putting a huge strain on shelter and services. Kabul was built to house half a million people, but is now home to over four million.
This video short focuses on Jaan Agha and his family. They lived in neighbouring Pakistan for 10 years and decided to return but have been unable to find proper shelter and work. They have no choice but to live in a tented settlement. They struggle to make ends meet, forcing Jaan Agha’s wife Raheema to work in this deeply conservative society.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
