These children lived in Maslakh camp, internally displaced by conflict and drought since late 2,000.
In June 2007, Iranian authorities started to expel Afghan refugees living in border areas. Many of them, like this old couple, had no resources to survive.
Some of the Afghans expelled in 2007 were dumped in a desertic area in Zaranj, in southern Afghanistan. Assistance was difficult since Zaranj was only accessible through a small airplane, flying once a week and often grounded due to sandstorms.
The winter of 2007-2008 was unusually harsh, with temperatures reaching – 27 C in Herat. Around 300 shepherds and peasants died from exposure.
