UN Says 4.9 Million Returnees Are Straining Afghanistan’s Economy and Services
Nearly 4.9 million people returned to Afghanistan between 2023 and 2025, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This large wave of returns has placed significant pressure on jobs, essential services and the country’s infrastructure.
The UNDP said the sharp increase in the returning population has substantially affected the country’s economic capacity and ability to deliver public services. In response to these challenges, the agency has unveiled a programme called “REVIVE II,” aimed at providing effective assistance to local communities in several provinces.
The “REVIVE II” programme focuses on improving livelihoods and expanding access to basic services, but given the scale of the country’s problems, these measures have so far not fully guaranteed the essential needs of returnees and local residents.
The situation highlights widespread shortcomings in the Taliban administration’s management of the migrant return crisis, especially as basic services and job opportunities have not been provided for the growing population. The current deficiencies could create conditions for further social and economic discontent in the near future.
