Afghanistan Faces Major Challenges as 15% of Population Returns Amid Economic Strains

Erafat Jamal, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Kabul, announced that nearly 15 percent of Afghanistan’s population has recently returned from Iran and Pakistan, with about 60 percent of these individuals forced to leave the host countries. Absorbing such a large number of returnees is very difficult, even for countries with abundant resources.

According to Jamal, the significant reduction in international aid alongside structural problems such as poverty, unemployment, and malnutrition have worsened the living conditions for both the returnees and the Afghan community at large. Additionally, restrictions and human rights violations, particularly those limiting the freedoms of women and girls, continue unabated in the country.

Most of the returnees enter Afghanistan with very limited resources, as they have had to sell their possessions to cover travel costs. The United Nations and partner agencies provide initial cash assistance only at border crossings, but this support does not meet essential needs such as shelter, employment, and obtaining identity documents.

These challenges highlight the critical situation facing returnees, with the Taliban administration failing to manage the crisis effectively. The lack of meaningful cooperation with the international community and reduced aid have placed severe pressure on this vulnerable group.