I don’t remember much about how we crossed into Pakistan, I was just three years old then. All I remember is a long, long journey and traveling through the nights.
We lived in Peshawar for 27 years, and came back to Afghanistan two years ago. Pakistan was good place, and we lived with dignity in Peshawar. But it was never our land, our country. And towards the end, we were being harassed by the police who were asking for money and for little things. We had to keep shifting our home, and finally my mother said that we should go back to our own country, where no one will ever say that this is not your land, you don’t belong here. And we will no longer be refugees.
It was a dream to come back to Afghanistan and build a home. We had wanted to do this for a long time. Two years ago, we decided to return home. My mother lives with my wife and children. I have six children, two sons and four daughters. I was able to build a home for my family. We used to live in tents before and my dream of building a home would have remained just a dream without UNHCR assistance. We got material to build a shelter. I am just a daily wage worker, I lay bricks when I can find work. I would not have been able to do this on my own. We have never lived in a house like this before. I feel like a king. This is how President Karzai must feel! We built this house with our own hands and I feel so happy to be back here. This is our country.
Rauf’s testimony was taken by Nayana Bose/UNHCR/2014. Read more stories on stories.unhcr.org.
Photo: UNHCR/N. Bose/2014. Rauf, 32, his daughters and his mother outside their home in Abdara village, Kabul province.
Share your refugee story on Twitter to @diplocourier, #WorldRefugeeDay.
a global affairs media network
Afghanistan: Rauf's Story
June 17, 2014
I don’t remember much about how we crossed into Pakistan, I was just three years old then. All I remember is a long, long journey and traveling through the nights.
We lived in Peshawar for 27 years, and came back to Afghanistan two years ago. Pakistan was good place, and we lived with dignity in Peshawar. But it was never our land, our country. And towards the end, we were being harassed by the police who were asking for money and for little things. We had to keep shifting our home, and finally my mother said that we should go back to our own country, where no one will ever say that this is not your land, you don’t belong here. And we will no longer be refugees.
It was a dream to come back to Afghanistan and build a home. We had wanted to do this for a long time. Two years ago, we decided to return home. My mother lives with my wife and children. I have six children, two sons and four daughters. I was able to build a home for my family. We used to live in tents before and my dream of building a home would have remained just a dream without UNHCR assistance. We got material to build a shelter. I am just a daily wage worker, I lay bricks when I can find work. I would not have been able to do this on my own. We have never lived in a house like this before. I feel like a king. This is how President Karzai must feel! We built this house with our own hands and I feel so happy to be back here. This is our country.
Rauf’s testimony was taken by Nayana Bose/UNHCR/2014. Read more stories on stories.unhcr.org.
Photo: UNHCR/N. Bose/2014. Rauf, 32, his daughters and his mother outside their home in Abdara village, Kabul province.
Share your refugee story on Twitter to @diplocourier, #WorldRefugeeDay.
