KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan is experiencing one of the largest return movements in recent years, with more than 4.5 million people returning from neighboring countries since September 2023, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a new report.
In its report, From Return to Rebuild for Afghan Returnees and Host Communities, released Wednesday, UNDP said the pace of returns has surged this year, with more than 2.3 million people arriving since January. Many returnees arrive without savings or housing, adding pressure on jobs, shelter, and basic services in host communities.
Women and children face the greatest challenges, including restricted mobility, limited access to services, and heightened protection risks. In some provinces, one in four returnee households is headed by women, UNDP said, urging targeted investments to enable their participation in local economies to sustain families and stabilize return areas.
Most returnees are concentrated in rural areas, where communities were already struggling to meet basic needs. UNDP found that 75% of overall returnee households, 83% of recent returnees, 71% of host community households, and 56% of internally displaced people live in rural regions.
Debt and unemployment remain widespread. Between 80% and 95% of returnees in western Afghanistan are unemployed, and 88% of returnees, 85% of IDPs, and 81% of host community households report debt ranging from $373 to $900. Child malnutrition is also common, with 42% of returnees and 40% of IDP households in Herat province showing poor food consumption scores.
Households are increasingly relying on negative coping strategies. 90% of households report measures such as borrowing, reducing meals, or selling assets. In the western region, 36% of returnee households and 43% of IDP households reported selling belongings to afford food, traditionally a last-resort strategy.
External aid remains insufficient. The UN agency said 76% of host community households and 64% of returnee households received no assistance in the past year, warning that the lack of support could lead to further displacement and economic and social breakdown.
UNDP calls for targeted interventions, including short-term relief, long-term recovery efforts, job creation, and women’s empowerment initiatives to strengthen community resilience.
Since 2023, the unprecedented influx—exacerbated by deportations from Iran and Pakistan—has challenged Afghanistan’s capacity for humanitarian response. According to the UN, nearly 23 million people—more than half the population—require humanitarian assistance in 2025, with forced returns adding further strain to already stretched resources.
Aid agencies warn that tens of thousands of families remain without shelter, water, or healthcare, while malnutrition and mental health challenges continue to rise across the country.
