UN Warns Mass Afghan Returns from Pakistan and Iran Are Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
By Sadia Khan :
Nearly 150,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran since the start of this year, a trend that is worsening Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian situation, according to the UNHCR.
After sheltering Afghan refugees for decades, both neighbouring countries have intensified deportations, sending large numbers of people back to a country struggling with poverty, economic instability, and limited basic services.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, UNHCR’s Afghanistan representative Arafat Jamal said the scale of returns is alarming, especially as harsh winter conditions grip much of the country.
He warned that many families are arriving with little support, often lacking official identification documents and reliable sources of income. According to UNHCR data, more than 90 percent of returnees are surviving on less than five dollars per day.
Jamal said that Afghanistan is facing multiple crises at once — including worsening humanitarian conditions, environmental disasters, economic hardship, and serious restrictions on women and girls — making reintegration extremely difficult.
UNHCR also revealed that the number of returns has increased by more than 50 percent compared to the same period last year, when fewer than 100,000 people had crossed back.
The agency expressed concern over the long-term sustainability of these movements, noting that some returnees are already attempting to leave Afghanistan again due to lack of opportunity.
“This is not a matter of choice,” Jamal said, adding that many families are unable to rebuild a stable or dignified life after years in exile.
UNHCR is currently seeking $216 million in funding to support displaced populations and returnees across Afghanistan, but only 8 percent of that amount has been secured so far.
About Author
