KABUL, Afghanistan — An estimated 6.6 million people in Afghanistan are in dire need of adequate shelter, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday.
The UN agency identified the high number of returnees from neighboring countries, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and rising poverty and unemployment as key factors driving the urgent need for housing across the country.
UNHCR data showed that the devastating earthquakes in Herat province in October 2023 destroyed approximately 48,000 homes, while this year’s floods damaged or destroyed more than 18,460 houses nationwide.
“These factors have eroded the resilience of communities already battered by over four decades of war, creating an acute demand for shelter across Afghanistan,” the report stated.
The agency emphasized that adequate housing is critical for ensuring the dignity, security, and privacy of families. It highlighted shelter provision as one of its priorities for 2024, including permanent housing solutions, shelter repairs, emergency housing, and the distribution of non-food items to families in crisis.
As winter sets in, returning migrants from neighboring countries are among those hardest hit. Many report facing severe challenges, including a lack of shelter, insufficient food, and limited job opportunities.
“With the arrival of winter, our situation has worsened. We have no proper shelter, and keeping our children warm has become impossible,” said one returning migrant. Some families continue to live in tents, with no heating equipment or resources to protect against the bitter cold.
UNHCR said it prioritizes assistance for returning refugees, internally displaced persons resettling in their communities, and vulnerable members of local populations.
