Truck carrying Afghan refugees flips on highway, killing 18 people

A Truck Carrying Afghan Refugees Crashes on Highway in Eastern Afghanistan

At least 18 people, including women and children, were killed in a truck accident on Saturday in the Qarghayi district of Laghman province, eastern Afghanistan. The incident occurred when a cargo truck carrying recently returned Afghan refugees from Pakistan veered off the road near the Surkhakan intersection.

According to authorities, the vehicle was heavily loaded with displaced families and their household belongings. The driver reportedly fell asleep at approximately 5:30am local time (01:00 GMT), causing the truck to fall into a ditch. At least 10 children were among those killed in the accident.

More than 30 passengers were injured, with some critically wounded. Emergency services quickly transferred the wounded to medical facilities in neighboring Nangarhar province. The central government has expressed formal condolences to the families of the victims.

The Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, released a statement on X, saying that he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The National Disaster Management Authority announced 730,000 afghanis ($10,000) in emergency financial assistance for the affected families.

The incident highlights the growing strain on transportation infrastructure as hundreds of thousands of Afghans return from neighboring countries. According to United Nations figures, more than 447,000 Afghans have crossed back from Pakistan this year alone. International aid groups warn that forced expulsions are compelling families to travel in hazardous conditions.

Source: Al Jazeera