Ali* moved to Iran from Afghanistan four decades ago. He now has a family of ten and struggles to make ends meet. Their situation is made even more difficult by the fact that they live in an unsafe deserted area that has become an informal settlement over time.
Assistance brings hope to Afghan families in Iran
Almost 30 minutes away from Kerman City in central Iran, there is an isolated area called Dasht-e-Zahmatkeshan, hosting more than 3,500 Afghan refugees. Due to the poor soil quality, it’s not possible to farm there.
As a result, most Afghans rely on working in the local brick factories as their primary source of income. The factories provide shelter for their workers, but there is no security of tenure beyond the employment agreement.
Ali, 49, works at a factory close to his house. He works hard to support his family despite suffering from lumbar disc disease. His wife also suffers from high blood pressure, but they can't afford the cost of medical care, and the nearest hospital is too far from their home.
Ali arrived in Iran in the mid-1980s. His eight children all still live with him, even though many have families of their own. This is not only due to the high cost of living and rising inflation, but also because their legal documentation remains tied to their father’s. Currently there is no legal way to separate their documentation, and they can’t afford to convert their papers to another type of documentation, which affects the amount of aid and services they receive per family.
Among Ali’s children, Ahmad* faces a particular challenge. Just ten years old, Ahmad is one of Ali’s youngest children. His main goal was to go to school and be the first child in his family who knows how to read and write. However, his path was not as smooth as had hoped.
Dasht-e-Zahmatkeshan is in a deserted and remote area. Animals roam around freely, and wild dogs are a real danger for little children like Ahmad and his friends. A year ago, Ahmad was attacked by a wild dog, resulting in the loss of his ear and part of his scalp.
Almost 30 minutes away from Kerman City in central Iran, there is an isolated area called Dasht-e-Zahmatkeshan, hosting more than 3,500 Afghan refugees. Due to the poor soil quality, it’s not possible to farm there.
As a result, most Afghans rely on working in the local brick factories as their primary source of income. The factories provide shelter for their workers, but there is no security of tenure beyond the employment agreement.
Ali, 49, works at a factory close to his house. He works hard to support his family despite suffering from lumbar disc disease. His wife also suffers from high blood pressure, but they can't afford the cost of medical care, and the nearest hospital is too far from their home.
Ali arrived in Iran in the mid-1980s. His eight children all still live with him, even though many have families of their own. This is not only due to the high cost of living and rising inflation, but also because their legal documentation remains tied to their father’s. Currently there is no legal way to separate their documentation, and they can’t afford to convert their papers to another type of documentation, which affects the amount of aid and services they receive per family.
Among Ali’s children, Ahmad* faces a particular challenge. Just ten years old, Ahmad is one of Ali’s youngest children. His main goal was to go to school and be the first child in his family who knows how to read and write. However, his path was not as smooth as had hoped.
Dasht-e-Zahmatkeshan is in a deserted and remote area. Animals roam around freely, and wild dogs are a real danger for little children like Ahmad and his friends. A year ago, Ahmad was attacked by a wild dog, resulting in the loss of his ear and part of his scalp.
Cash cards help to meet urgent needs
Assisting Afghan refugee families with cash cards is part of a project that the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Iran is conducting with the generous support of European Union Humanitarian Aid. The funds are provided unconditionally, and NRC consults with each family to ensure the money is used for their most urgent needs.
Ali’s family were able to use the cash assistance for several purposes. They extended their legal documentationand obtained Smart ID cards, granting them the legal right to reside in Iran, while ensuring uninterrupted access to public and essential services. They also paid for Ahmad’s medical expenses and enrolled him in the first grade after a three-year gap, fulfilling his long-held goal.
Although the family’s situation remains vulnerable due to the ongoing costs of Ahmad’s skin transplant, they are overjoyed that he can finally attend school and that they can remain in Iran for a longer period.
NRC in Iran
Since 2012, NRC has been assisting displaced Afghans as well as host communities in Iran. It works to protect and improve access to basic humanitarian services across eight provinces: Alborz, Tehran, Yazd, Hormozgan, Kerman, Razavi Khorasan, Markazi, and Sistan and Baluchestan.
Since mid-2021, NRC has significantly scaled up its work in Iran to respond to the recent developments in Afghanistan, while maintaining all existing programmes.
*Names have been changed to respect the individuals’ wish for anonymity.
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