The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports a sharp increase in the number of Afghans returning to Afghanistan under adverse conditions from Iran.
In a statement, the UN agency cautioned that such large-scale returns could destabilize the fragile situation within the country.
Since the implementation of a return deadline by the Afghan government on March 20, 2025, over 640,000 Afghans have returned from Iran, with more than 366,000 being deported—this includes refugees and individuals in refugee-like situations.
The sharpest rise in returns occurred on June 26, when approximately 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in a single day. The number of daily returns has been steadily increasing since June 13.
“I was just at the border between Iran and Afghanistan, where thousands of Afghans are returning under extremely difficult conditions,” said Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Kabul.
“These Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with minimal belongings, exhausted, hungry, and fearful about what awaits them in a country many have never even set foot in. Women and girls are particularly anxious, as they face growing concerns about restrictions on their freedom of movement and access to basic rights like education and employment.”
To date, over 1.2 million Afghans have either voluntarily returned or been forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan in 2025, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan.
The UN estimates that more than half of Afghanistan’s population now relies on humanitarian assistance.
UNHCR has repeatedly warned that declining international support is deepening the complex crises in Afghanistan.
“We need to act quickly. We urgently call on the international community to provide not just emergency aid, but also long-term support. Funding for sustainable reintegration is essential to prevent further cycles of instability and displacement,” emphasized Jamal.
The agency continues to advocate with governments in the region for returns to Afghanistan to be voluntary, safe, and dignified.
“Forcing or pressuring Afghans to return is unsustainable and could destabilize the region—and beyond,” Jamal added.
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