Afghans fleeing to neighbouring countries to avoid the brutal Taliban regime are facing escalating risks, the UN refugee agency UNHCR has warned.

The warning comes as the humanitarian and security situation within Afghanistan continues to deteriorate.

St the moment, Afghanistan’s land borders with Pakistan and Iran are open but only to those with the required passports and visas, although a small number of medical cases are permitted to exceptionally enter Pakistan without documents.

The land borders of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are closed entirely to Afghans.

The dangers of asylum-seekers being unable to flee Afghanistan are grave, and in some cases life-threatening, UNHCR has warned.

Around the world, many forced to flee typically do not have the necessary travel permissions and documents that would ordinarily be required.

The UNHCR says that while all countries have sovereign rights to regulate their borders, there must be exceptions for those seeking safety.

“Allowing them to enter a country even without documentation, to avoid such dangers, is a life-saving humanitarian gesture and the cornerstone of the international asylum system,” UNHCR said in a statement.

“Even prior to the current humanitarian crisis, thousands of Afghans crossed daily into Pakistan and Iran, primarily for the purposes of trade, medical care or to see family members,” the agency said.

A majority of movements were temporary, with people returning to Afghanistan after a short period.

Since August, the UNHCR says it has received increasing numbers of Afghans in neighbouring countries who have approached its offices and partners, indicating their intention to seek asylum.

Others still in Afghanistan report hoping to reach neighbouring countries to access international protection.

Ongoing barriers to girls’ education and restrictions on women’s movement and ability to work continue to hamper the day-to-day lives of up to half the Afghan population, and hinder humanitarian assistance, UNHCR says.

“The targeting of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the intimidation and killing of human rights activists, further highlight the life-threatening risks faced by many Afghans.” The agency said.

Other reports say economic deterioration and widespread hunger in Afghanistan may compel thousands more to leave the country to survive.

The UNHCR statement said that while official borders remain closed to the vast majority of Afghans, there are numbers of asylum-seekers crossing into neighbouring countries through unofficial channels.

“Many entering Iran report having sought the assistance of smugglers in order to leave Afghanistan,” it said.

“Most have told UNHCR and partners they were exposed to serious protection risks on the journey – including extortion, beatings and other violence, particularly against women and girls.

“Deportations of Afghans have also escalated from Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan since August, in contravention of UNHCR’s non-return advisory,” the statement said.

Local media have reported Iranian authorities saying that to 5,000 Afghans are arriving each day into Iran.

But the UNHCR estimates that an average of 3,000 Afghans were deported from Iran to Afghanistan each day between August and November.

In Pakistan, deportations of around 1,800 Afghans were reported during September and October.

UNHCR has also expressed concern over the deportation of twenty-three Afghan asylum-seekers, including women and children, from Tajikistan during the past month.

“Forced returns in these circumstances may contravene the principle of non-refoulement and constitute a serious breach of international law,” UNHCR said.

“UNHCR urges all countries receiving Afghan new arrivals to keep their borders open to those in need of international protection.

“An inability to seek refuge may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian assistance and support accessible and efficient asylum systems as needed,” the agency said.

See the latest figures on Afghan refugees: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/afghanistan.