UNHCR: The speed and scale of the return of Afghans to their country raises concern and deepens the crisis

Arafat Jamal, UNHCR representative in Afghanistan, said: “The speed and scale of this return has deepened the crisis in Afghanistan, as the country continues to face a deteriorating humanitarian situation and human rights violations, especially for women and girls, as well as a fragile economy and recurring natural disasters.”.

At the bi-weekly press conference of UN agencies in Geneva, Jamal warned that the large number of returnees this year raises concerns given the harsh winter, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall in most parts of the country.

ray of hope

The UNHCR representative spoke about a recent UNHCR survey that showed that just over half of the returnees were able to find some work, while for women this percentage drops to less than a quarter.

And he said: “More than half of returning families reported that they do not have any civil documents, such as ID cards, to prove their identity or place of residence, and more than 90% of them live on less than US$5 per day.”.

But he pointed to a glimmer of hope as UNHCR noted an improvement in the socio-economic situation of returnees, with those returning in 2025 generally enjoying higher levels of education and greater participation in the labor market.

Need for additional support

The UN official stressed that UNHCR has the capacity, presence and experience over the past four decades in Afghanistan to provide the assistance that local communities say they urgently need, including protection services, housing and livelihood support, especially for women.

He warned that in light of this deteriorating humanitarian situation and the rapidly increasing population, there is an urgent need for additional support in 2026 to expand the scope of assistance and investment in reintegration, allowing people to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope and stability.

UNHCR needs $216 million for 2026 to support displaced people and returnees across Afghanistan, but the percentage of funding provided for its response currently does not exceed 8%.