Since June 20 of this year, the Iranian government, especially following the 12-day war with Israel, has carried out a large-scale deportation of Afghans.
During the first days and weeks of this process, up to 38,000 individuals returned to Afghanistan daily solely through the Islam Qala border in Herat.
According to Ahmadullah Muttaqi, head of the Herat Department of Information and Culture, over approximately three months, more than 3,057,000 Afghans were deported from Iran via the Islam Qala border.
These images provide a glimpse into those days.
A young child, wearing a head covering, playing with a water bottle in the hot weather.
A child drinking water in the hot weather at the refugee camp at the Islam Qala border in Herat.
Distribution of water and beverages for migrants at the Islam Qala refugee camp in Herat – the weather is extremely hot, and people are in need of water.
A young child who has just been deported from Iran with their family.
A young girl looking at her school bag – she has also been deported from Iran.
A group of migrant children gathered together, looking at the camera, waiting to have their photo taken.
An individual who was injured in Iran and has now been forcibly deported with the same injury.
