**The accident highlights the humanitarian crisis faced by deported Afghans and the dangers of Afghanistan's precarious road conditions.**
**Tragic Crash Claims Lives of Afghan Deportees in Herat**
**Tragic Crash Claims Lives of Afghan Deportees in Herat**
**A bus carrying Afghan migrants deported from Iran catches fire after a collision, resulting in 79 fatalities.**
The devastating traffic accident in western Afghanistan has left a profound impact on the nation, as 79 people, including 17 children, have lost their lives. These individuals were aboard a bus that was transporting Afghan migrants deported from Iran when it collided with a truck and motorcycle on the road in Herat province. A spokesperson for the Taliban's interior ministry confirmed the grim details.
The bus, which was travelling towards Kabul, caught fire following the collision that took place late Tuesday night. Ahmadullah Mottaqi, the local director of information and culture, stated that all passengers on the bus perished in the blaze, alongside two individuals from the other vehicles involved. This tragedy is not isolated; it sheds light on the alarming rise in deportations of undocumented Afghans by Iranian authorities, a practice that has escalated in recent months.
Provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi provided further insights, noting that the bus passengers were migrants who had boarded in Islam Qala, a town at the Afghanistan-Iran border. Authorities attribute the cause of the crash to "excessive speed and negligence" by the bus driver, a common narrative in a country where road safety regulations remain largely unenforced due to years of conflict.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of a broader humanitarian crisis, as many Afghans who have fled conflict have begun returning under duress from Iran. Since the 1970s, millions have sought refuge in neighboring countries due to ongoing violence, with recent months marking a significant surge in forced repatriations. Reports indicate that Iran's increased deportation efforts are linked to rising anti-Afghan sentiments and political scapegoating.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 1.5 million Afghans have left Iran this year alone, with many facing systemic discrimination upon their return. Experts warn that Afghanistan is ill-equipped to manage such large numbers of returnees, especially as it contends with a deteriorating economic situation and cuts to aid. Arshad Malik, country director of Save the Children Afghanistan, highlighted the strains on resources resulting from the influx of returnees and the potential exacerbation of humanitarian crises amid worsening conditions in the country.
The bus, which was travelling towards Kabul, caught fire following the collision that took place late Tuesday night. Ahmadullah Mottaqi, the local director of information and culture, stated that all passengers on the bus perished in the blaze, alongside two individuals from the other vehicles involved. This tragedy is not isolated; it sheds light on the alarming rise in deportations of undocumented Afghans by Iranian authorities, a practice that has escalated in recent months.
Provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi provided further insights, noting that the bus passengers were migrants who had boarded in Islam Qala, a town at the Afghanistan-Iran border. Authorities attribute the cause of the crash to "excessive speed and negligence" by the bus driver, a common narrative in a country where road safety regulations remain largely unenforced due to years of conflict.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of a broader humanitarian crisis, as many Afghans who have fled conflict have begun returning under duress from Iran. Since the 1970s, millions have sought refuge in neighboring countries due to ongoing violence, with recent months marking a significant surge in forced repatriations. Reports indicate that Iran's increased deportation efforts are linked to rising anti-Afghan sentiments and political scapegoating.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 1.5 million Afghans have left Iran this year alone, with many facing systemic discrimination upon their return. Experts warn that Afghanistan is ill-equipped to manage such large numbers of returnees, especially as it contends with a deteriorating economic situation and cuts to aid. Arshad Malik, country director of Save the Children Afghanistan, highlighted the strains on resources resulting from the influx of returnees and the potential exacerbation of humanitarian crises amid worsening conditions in the country.
