Pakistan's government forces the closure of Khewa camp.

The decision of the Pakistani government to close all Afghan refugee camps created great hardship for the refugees. Many cannot pay the rent in Pakistan's cities and have no choice but to return to an uncertain future in a war-torn Afghanistan. Last week the refugees of Khewa camp, where RAWA had been looking after their health, their children's education and their basic supplies such as clean water, packed their meagre belongings, rescuing the little they could from their houses, and got on the dusty road to Afghanistan.

RAWA desperately needs funds to assist the refugees in their attempt to establish their lives again. Please go to the donation page and be generous!

Written 24 September 2007. Update 17 March 2008: Khewa camp received a six month reprieve from the Pakistani government. There are hopes that it can stay open until the end of the school year (July/August), but its closure is certain. Help is still urgently needed.

Update 2 June:All refugee camps are now focibly closed, see IRIN news for a report on the closure procedure. Help is more needed than ever.

Camp residents rescue roof trusses, window frames and whatever they can from their houses.

The rescued materials are loaded on trucks.

The remains of a deserted house.

Families prepare for their departure, their belongings and remains of their houses loaded on trucks.

See RAWA's detailed report and budget estimate for resettlement at the RAWA website.

RAWA desperately needs funds to assist the refugees in their attempt to establish their lives again. Please go to the donation page and be generous!