KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says nearly five million migrants have returned to Afghanistan over the past two years.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday (24 February), UNAMA said the large-scale returns have followed forced deportations from neighboring countries and the imposition of stricter migration policies.
According to the UN mission, approximately 2.78 million Afghans returned to the country in 2025 alone — including 1.88 million from Iran and 899,000 from Pakistan. UNAMA said that of those who returned, 2.3 million were undocumented, while 484,000 held valid documentation.
“For most returnees, the journey home was abrupt and unplanned. Families arrived with few assets, limited savings and minimal documentation, immediately relying on humanitarian assistance. Communities across Afghanistan — already struggling with poverty, unemployment and limited public services, were suddenly tasked with accommodating vast numbers of newcomers.”
The agency added that UN bodies have intensified coordinated efforts to provide emergency assistance. However, it warned that the scale of the crisis far exceeds available resources.
Severe funding shortages have further limited the ability of humanitarian organizations to meet the needs of all returnees, the mission said. “Despite these efforts, the scale of the crisis far exceeds available resources. Assistance has been insufficient and has not reached all those in need due to severe funding constraints. Shelter, food, livelihoods and longer-term reintegration support remain critical gaps.”
UNAMA also warned that women, girls and children are facing heightened risks. Nearly one-third of returnees are women and girls, while children under 17 — particularly unaccompanied and separated minors — require urgent protection services, family tracing and psychosocial support.
The mission said undocumented returnees face serious barriers in accessing basic services, livelihoods and legal protection, leaving them in acute vulnerability.
Iran and Pakistan have significantly intensified deportations over the past two years, with many Afghan migrants reporting the cancellation of their residency documents.
The United Nations says the mass returns have increased Afghanistan’s population by nearly 10 percent, further exacerbating the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises following decades of conflict, economic collapse and international sanctions.
The large-scale returns coincide with a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where the UN estimates that over half the population, nearly 22 million people, requires assistance in 2026. Taliban restrictions on women and girls continue to restrict access to education, healthcare, and other services.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have criticized the deportations, warning that the rapid influx exacerbates food insecurity, health challenges, and shelter shortages for returnees. Aid groups and UN bodies have urged international support to address the needs of those returning.
