The United Nations refugee agency said that over 250,000 Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in April, many under duress, compounding what it described as an already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Of the total, approximately 96,000 individuals were forcibly deported, while about 154,000 others returned voluntarily, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The mass return of Afghans is putting added pressure on humanitarian services and worsening the already precarious living conditions for millions of people across the country, the agency said. “Large-scale returns are placing additional strain on already overstretched humanitarian resources and worsening the plight of millions struggling to survive,” UNHCR said in its latest report.
UNHCR raised particular concern for returning women and girls, who face escalating restrictions on movement, employment and education under the Taliban government. “They face mounting limitations in accessing work, education and freedom of movement,” said Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the agency. “We urge the governments of Iran and Pakistan to ensure that returns to Afghanistan are voluntary, safe, and conducted with dignity.”
The agency also warned that human rights activists, journalists and members of ethnic and religious minority groups are among those at particular risk of persecution upon return.
UNHCR said the current humanitarian context in Afghanistan includes rising unemployment, food insecurity, and environmental shocks, adding to the burden faced by returnees.
Since 2023, more than 3.5 million Afghans have either returned voluntarily or been deported from Iran and Pakistan. In 2024 alone, over 1.5 million Afghans have made the journey back, according to UNHCR.
The refugee agency also cautioned that such large-scale returns could increase internal displacement within Afghanistan and spur onward migration toward Europe. Afghan nationals have comprised the largest share of irregular arrivals from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe this year, accounting for 41 percent of the total.
To address the mounting needs of returnees and stabilize the broader region, UNHCR said it requires $75 million in funding. The agency urged international donors to respond promptly to avoid further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
