UNICEF Warns Mass Return of Migrants Deepens Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. According to the report, since the beginning of 2025, more than 2.6 million Afghan nationals have returned from Iran and Pakistan, a process that has significantly intensified the country’s humanitarian challenges.

UNICEF stated that the large-scale returns have led to severe shortages in housing, increased food insecurity, and heightened pressure on Afghanistan’s health and education systems. This situation has left many returning families living in harsh conditions with limited access to essential services.

Experts warn that in the absence of clear policies and effective support programs from the Taliban administration, the capacity to respond to the crisis is steadily declining. They also point to restrictions on international organizations and the suspension of numerous development programs as factors exacerbating the situation.

While Afghanistan has long faced chronic economic and humanitarian problems, the mass return of migrants from neighboring countries this year has profoundly exacerbated hardships, particularly in urban and border areas.