UNHCR ‘s report recently shows that nearly 150000 Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, adding to an unprecedented 2.9 million returns in 2025 and about 5.4 million since October 2023. Many of these returns have occurred under extremely difficult circumstances.
This report was released today (Friday, 13th February) at the palais des Nations in Geneva.
Arafat Jamal, representatives of the UNHCR to Afghanistan says that the rapid and large-scale returns have deepened Afghanistan’s crisis. The country faces worsening humanitarian and human rights conditions-especially for women and girls-alongside a fragile economy and recurring natural disasters.
A recent World Bank report notes that population growth driven by GDP per capita in 2025. Harsh winter conditions have further intensified challenges.
The report also states that returnees face severe socio-economic hardships. Only about half have found any form of work, mostly informal, while fewer than a quarter of women are employed. More than half lack civil documentation, and over 90% live on less than $5 a day. Although only 5% say they plan to leave again, many know someone who has already re-migrated, highlighting the difficulty of rebuilding sustainable lives.
UNHCR is focusing on reintegration support, including protection services, housing, and livelihood assistance, particularly for women. With asylum space shrinking in the region, the agency urges countries to protect Afghan refugees and avoid forced returns.
For 2026, UNHCR requires $216 million to assist displaced people and returnees in Afghanistan, but its response is currently only 8% funded, making urgent international support critical.
