Kabul : The United Nations has called for urgent international support to respond to what it describes as an overwhelming wave of Afghan returnees, with more than 1.3 million people having returned so far in 2025, according to a statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
During a visit to the Islam Qala border crossing, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Roza Otunbayeva said, “What should be a positive homecoming moment for families who fled conflict decades ago is instead marked by exhaustion, trauma, and profound uncertainty.”
She warned that “the sheer volume of returns, many abrupt, many involuntary, should be setting off alarm bells across the global community.” The statement emphasized that Afghanistan, already dealing with drought and a chronic humanitarian crisis, “cannot absorb this shock alone.”
UNAMA said that despite efforts by UN agencies and local authorities, “the pace and scale of returns are overwhelming already fragile support systems.” With 70% of Afghans living in poverty, the influx is further straining limited resources.
Women and children face the gravest risks, returning to conditions where “access to basic services and social protections remains severely constrained,” the statement noted.
UNAMA also raised concerns over the severe underfunding of humanitarian operations. “Agonizing choices between food, shelter, and safe passage are now unavoidable,” it said.
The UN warned that without immediate reintegration support, including livelihoods and infrastructure, there could be “remittance losses, labour market pressure, renewed displacement, mass onward movement, and risks to regional stability.”
Otunbayeva appealed directly to donors and regional partners: “Do not turn away. The returnees must not be abandoned. What we are witnessing are the direct consequences of unmet global responsibilities.”
The statement concluded by urging for an “integrated approach” that addresses both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term development in areas of return.