NEW DELHI: Mahram Amini arrived in New Delhi in the first week of August from Afghanistan’s Maymana intending to stay for just 10 days for a brain tumour surgery.
She has been stuck in the city for over 40 days with her physically impaired husband, Syed Mohiddin, and nephew, Abdul Shoker.
“We have spent around Rs 3 lakh on surgery, medicines, food and lodging and have now run out of money,” said Shoker.
“Mahram’s son sold off his taxi in Afghanistan to arrange funds for her surgery and cannot send more money. The doctor advised a healthy diet for Mahram, but we cannot even arrange three square meals. We want to go back to Afghanistan.”
The trio have rented a room in Lajpat Nagar’s Kasturba Niketan. If they get back to their country they can get help, he added, when there’s no one in Delhi to help them financially.
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, many people fled and others were desperate to do so.
In contrast, scores of Afghans who are in India on medical visas want to return home. Ubaidullah, a native of Mazar-I-Sharif, reached Delhi around 45 days ago for the treatment of his five-year-old son, Zebiudullah Ziyaee, a neurological disorder patient, and his sister, Tahira Noori, a heart patient. He was accompanied by his pregnant wife Tayabi and a two-year-old son.
“We have no money now to even buy medicines for my son and sister. We cannot even afford milk for my children. I booked tickets to return home on August 16, but the flight was cancelled after the Taliban overtook Kabul,” said Ubaidullah, whose wife gave birth to a premature daughter on August 29 due to stress.
Noori said, “There is no point in staying in New Delhi as it is only adding to our expenses. We appeal to the Indian government to help make arrangements for our return home.”
Many Afghans longing to return home have been making the rounds of the Afghan embassy. Maseehullah Hotak, 23, who came for a medical check-up, was exasperated by the lack of anything positive from his daily visits to the embassy.
“When I could not afford to pay the rent, the landlord evicted me. I am now sharing a small room with three others at a rent of Rs 500 per day. If I do not return to Afghanistan soon, I will be forced to sleep on the streets,” the youth said.
Hotak’s roommate, Abdul Qadir, got his eyes damaged in an explosion in Afghanistan’s Paktia.
Qadir, who can see only from his left eye, said, “My brother also came to New Delhi to help me with eye treatment. Our wives and children are alone back home. We both were in the police force but we hadn’t got salaries for some time and our families are struggling to survive. If we go home, we can work as labourers to support our families.”
Though Ahmad Fahim Sadiq is in New Delhi along with his wife and children, he too is waiting for flights to resume. “Only the affluent want to flee Afghanistan,” he declared.
“I have my house and job in Kabul and I have nothing in India.” Sadiq arrived in Delhi on July 7 for the treatment of his three-year-old kid.
Some people who came to New Delhi on business and other purposes are also stuck. Cloth trader Ashabuuddin said, “I want to go back to my wife and eight minor children in Kabul. People who worked for the Afghanistan government or the United States want to flee, but people like us want to continue staying there.”
Mohammad Nadir, 60, who came to Delhi for his cancer-stricken wife, Jamila, is desperate to go back to Afghanistan. “The Indian government, please help us,” the elderly couple pleaded.
