Pakistan's Forced Deportation Plan Endangers Afghan Refugees' Health

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) called on the Pakistani government to stop its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), which forces the return of Afghan refugees and migrants. MSF says the policy deters people from seeking medical care for fear of arrest, detention, or deportation, leading to preventable health problems.

The organization highlighted a case in Quetta where Afghan refugee Najib was arrested during a police raid despite holding a Proof of Registration card. His wife, three months pregnant, suffered severe bleeding and miscarried after the family delayed seeking treatment out of fear of further arrests. MSF reported that among children screened at its mobile clinics, 7.6% had severe acute malnutrition and 25.7% moderate acute malnutrition, with nearly 90% of malnourished patients being Afghan women and children.

Pakistan introduced the IFRP in November 2023, initially targeting undocumented Afghans and later expanding to those with Afghan Citizen Cards and Proof of Registration cards. The plan accelerated deportations in July 2024, prompting humanitarian groups to urge an immediate halt to forced returns and to ensure migrants can access health services without risk of detention.