KABUL, Afghanistan (Virtual) –
Afghanistan is grappling with a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis as a chaotic wave of returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan overwhelms the country’s already strained capacity under Taliban rule.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a stark warning on Friday, emphasizing that this uncontrolled influx threatens to destabilize not only Afghanistan but also the broader regional landscape.
Over 1.6 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2024 alone, a figure that has already surpassed earlier forecasts for the entire year, according to UNHCR. This surge is largely driven by increased pressure and, in many cases, forced deportations from both host countries. Iran, in particular, has seen a dramatic increase in repatriations, with more than 256,000 Afghans returning in June alone and over 800,000 since January. Pakistan, too, has stepped up its expulsion efforts, with plans to deport 3 million Afghans this year.
“The scale and speed of these returns are placing enormous pressure on border provinces ill-equipped to absorb them, exacerbating poverty, insecurity, and humanitarian need in a country still reeling from economic collapse and widespread human rights abuses,” stated a UNHCR spokesperson.
The humanitarian situation for these returnees is dire. Many arrive with “nothing but the clothes on their back,” according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
A rapid needs assessment conducted by Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) in early July at the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran revealed severe unmet needs in shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food security, health, protection, livelihoods, and education. For instance, 88% of returnees reported insufficient and unsafe water, and 83% lacked access to health services.
Complicating the situation further is the fact that many returnees, especially women and children, are coming back to a country they barely know. “They are from Afghanistan, but not of Afghanistan – often born abroad with better education and different cultural norms. Their outlook is different from and often at odds with present-day Afghanistan,” noted Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan.
Women and girls face a particularly jarring shift, moving from relative autonomy in host countries to a context where their rights are severely restricted by Taliban edicts. Reports indicate heightened protection risks, including exposure to gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, trafficking, and transactional sex, exacerbated by a lack of basic resources and support services.
The Taliban’s Commission for Addressing Migrant Affairs has reported massive daily arrivals, with over 20,000 Afghan migrants returning on Saturday alone through various border crossings.
While some returns are voluntary, a significant portion are forcibly deported, leading to traumatic experiences for many. Returnees often report harassment, discrimination, and being stripped of their belongings before expulsion.
Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure, ongoing economic crisis, and limited absorption capacity are being stretched to their breaking point. Local communities, already struggling with chronic poverty, are making generous efforts to accommodate the influx, but their resources are rapidly depleting. This “precarity layered upon poverty” risks fueling frustration, competition over limited resources, and new forms of social tension, according to UNHCR.
Humanitarian agencies are providing essential relief items, hot meals, and emergency financial assistance, but these efforts are under immense strain due to funding shortages and the overwhelming scale of returns. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has warned that the humanitarian system is “overstretched” and that if current trends continue, Afghanistan could see over three million returnees by the end of 2025.
The UN refugee agency is calling for calm and cooperation from regional countries to ensure voluntary, safe, and dignified returns. Forcing or pressuring Afghans to return risks further instability in the region and potential onward movement towards Europe. The international community is being urged to increase support to Afghanistan to prevent further suffering and avert a deeper humanitarian catastrophe that could have far-reaching implications for regional stability.
