KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations and its partners have launched a $529 million response plan to support an estimated 2.7 million Afghans expected to return from Iran and Pakistan in 2026, amid one of the largest population movements in the country’s recent history.
The 2026 Response Plan for Afghan Returnees (RPAR), unveiled in Kabul on Tuesday, seeks to deliver coordinated support ranging from initial reception at border crossing points to longer-term reintegration into communities across the country. It covers the period from April to December 2026.
Afghanistan is experiencing one of the largest return movements in its recent history. Since September 2023, nearly 5.9 million Afghans have returned, according to UN figures. This includes 2.9 million returnees in 2025 alone and another 600,000 in the first four months of 2026. Officials project a further 1.7 million from Iran and 1.1 million from Pakistan in the coming months.
UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale described the situation as far more than a temporary border emergency. “This is not a short term border event. It is a profound demographic and development challenge that requires a sustained, principled, and fully funded response,” Oyewale said.
He highlighted particular vulnerabilities among the returnees, noting that over half are women and children, many of whom were born and raised outside Afghanistan and may have limited ties to their areas of return. Without adequate support for basic services and livelihoods, Oyewale warned of risks including secondary displacement, deepening poverty, and rising social tensions affecting both returnees and host communities.
The plan is structured around two main components. The border response, allocated $100.7 million, will provide immediate emergency assistance at official crossing points with Iran and Pakistan. This includes cash assistance, healthcare, nutrition support, protection services, sanitation facilities, and transportation. Implementation will be led by a border consortium headed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The larger reintegration component, budgeted at $428.5 million, will target 35 highly vulnerable priority districts. It aims to restore access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and clean water, while supporting livelihood opportunities, housing, and land rights for returnees.
“The scale of need is immense, but so is the collective capacity of UN agencies, NGOs, and our partners,” said Thamindri De Silva, Country Director of World Vision International. She warned that current funding gaps limit coverage, noting that “this figure only covers 40 per cent of the most vulnerable returnees, even though 70 per cent meet our vulnerability criteria.”
Aid organizations have appealed to donors to fully fund the plan, stressing that funding shortfalls could exacerbate Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis. They emphasized that support is critical not only for returnees but also for host communities already grappling with limited resources and growing pressure on basic services.
According to UN data, the return of millions of Afghans since 2023 has significantly intensified humanitarian needs across Afghanistan, while international funding for the country continues to decline.
