The United Nations has announced that in the first three months of 2026, over 500,000 migrants have been returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, and it is expected that an additional 2.7 million will be expelled by the end of this year.
In a report released the organization stated that between April and the end of December, 1.6 million migrants will be expelled from Iran and another 1.1 million from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
The report noted that responsible agencies have requested a budget of $529.2 million to address the urgent needs and integration of this number of returnees.
The United Nations has warned in part of its report that such a large-scale return poses significant humanitarian and developmental challenges for Afghanistan.
Additionally, the report mentioned that from September 2023 to April 2026, 5.8 million migrants from Iran and Pakistan will be expelled to Afghanistan.
It stated that with the return of this number of migrants, the country’s population has increased by approximately 10 to 12 percent.
This comes as last year alone, 2.9 million migrants returned or were expelled due to intensified policies in Iran and Pakistan regarding migrants.
According to estimates by the United Nations, the number of returnees to Afghanistan this year is expected to exceed last year’s figures, reaching 3.2 million.
Reports indicate that women and children make up 50 percent of the returning migrant population.
The report also highlighted that migrants face serious challenges in accessing shelter, healthcare, and education upon their return to Afghanistan.
