Afghanistan, July 29 -- Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan are delaying or avoiding essential medical care because they fear arrest, detention and deportation under Islamabad's ongoing campaign against undocumented migrants, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Tuesday, warning that the policy is putting vulnerable families at growing risk.
In a new report, MSF said Pakistan's Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) has severely affected refugees' access to healthcare, with many Afghans avoiding hospitals and clinics for fear they could be detained while seeking treatment. The medical charity said the trend is contributing to worsening child malnutrition, untreated chronic illnesses, pregnancy-related complications and preventa...