An international invitation to an urgent international work to help the returnees to Afghanistan

The UN official said in a statement: “What should have been a positive time for families who fled the conflict decades ago, now turned into fatigue, shocks and a deep state of uncertainty.”

She added that the huge size of the returnees – many of them suddenly returned, and forcedly – should be knock on the alarm bells throughout the world. She said: “It is a test of our collective humanity. Afghanistan, which is already suffering from drought and a chronic humanitarian crisis, cannot bear this shock on its own.”

Despite the relentless efforts of the United Nations agencies and local authorities, and the popular support for returnees, the pace and the size of revenues already exceed the ability of fragile support systems already.

More than a million returns

More than 1.3 million Afghan has returned so far in 2025, imposing great pressure on societies in a country where 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. Women and children face the most risky – they are not only due to severe economic difficulties, but also to a context in which they can reach basic services and social protection is very limited.

At the same time, humanitarian operations remain seriously suffering from financing, forcing painful choices between food, shelter and safe passage.

The Special Representative of the Secretary -General Autonbayeva also emphasized the vital importance of immediate help in reintegration – as preliminary evidence shows that the stability of returnees societies require urgent living programs and investments in community infrastructure. Without rapid interventions, financial transfers, labor market pressure, periodic migration will lead to devastating consequences such as increasing the stability of both returnees and host population, renewal of displacement, mass movements forward, and risks to regional stability, according to the international official.

“Do not manage your backs on Afghanistan”

She appealed to the private representative of the Secretary -General donors, development partners and regional governments, saying: “Do not manage your backs. The returnees should not be left. What we are witnessing are direct consequences for unbalanced international responsibilities. We must move now – with possibilities, coordination, and determination.”

The United Nations in Afghanistan called for an integrated approach that provides resources for humanitarian needs while at the same time expanding the scope of assistance in the return areas.

In parallel, she stressed the need to give priority to regional dialogue – including with Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian countries – to stop the unorganized return and maintain the principle of generous and safe voluntary return.