A tragic bus accident in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of at least 75 people, including 17 children. The incident occurred late Tuesday as the bus was transporting Afghan migrants who had been deported from Iran. The bus was en route to Kabul from the Iran-Afghanistan border when it collided with a motorbike and another vehicle in Herat province, according to Ahmadullah Muttaqi, a senior Afghan government official.

The collision caused a fire that engulfed the bus, which was filled with passengers. “The car was carrying fuel and it caught fire after a head-on collision with the bus, fully loaded with passengers,” Muttaqi stated. All 73 Afghan migrants aboard the bus perished, along with two individuals from the other vehicles involved. Two additional people sustained injuries in the crash.

This accident highlights the ongoing crisis faced by Afghan migrants. Many of these individuals have recently returned to Afghanistan after being deported from Iran and Pakistan, where authorities have intensified crackdowns on undocumented migrants. Since October 2023, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been forced to leave these countries, raising concerns about the potential destabilization of Afghanistan.

“These Afghan refugees were returning home after spending a long time in Iran, but they could not reach their destination as their bus met with a tragic accident,” Muttaqi added. The United Nations reported that over 2.2 million people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan this year, with more than 1.8 million coming from Iran alone.

The mass deportations have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations and the Taliban government, which argue that these actions violate humanitarian principles. Many returning Afghans have lived abroad for years and are often unable to bring much with them.

Traffic accidents are a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan, attributed to poor road conditions and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws. The country has a long history of conflict, which has left its infrastructure in disrepair.

In addition to the challenges faced by returnees, Afghanistan is grappling with a humanitarian crisis. More than half of its population of over 40 million relies on humanitarian assistance, as international funding has decreased. The Taliban has stated that returnees are not mistreated and receive support such as cash, food, and healthcare upon arrival.

The situation for Afghan migrants remains precarious, with many facing deportation from countries like the United States, where recent legal changes have affected their protected status. The ongoing crisis continues to unfold as the international community watches closely.