Nearly 150,000 afghans return from Pakistan and Iran in 2026: UN

WEB DESK: Nearly 150,000 Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday, as part of an unprecedented wave of returns that is deepening a humanitarian crisis in the war‑torn country.

According to UNHCR’s representative to Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, the figure of returnees in 2026 already follows on from millions of others who have gone back since late 2023, bringing the total to about 5.4m returnees from the two neighbouring states.

Many of those returning are doing so under extremely difficult conditions. Some are crossing the border surrounded by family, others alone, often with few possessions and limited prospects for work or shelter in a country already facing severe economic hardship, recurring natural disasters and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

UNHCR officials have described the situation as deeply concerning given the harsh winter weather conditions in Afghanistan, including freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, which exacerbate the challenges facing returnees. More than half of returnee families surveyed reported lacking civil documentation such as identity cards and over 90pc live on less than $5 a day.

The high number of returns this year up sharply from last has placed additional strain on Afghanistan’s fragile economy and already limited humanitarian support systems. Aid agencies warn that the sheer scale and pace of returnee movement is difficult to sustain without increased international support.

UNHCR has called on the international community to help meet urgent needs in 2026, emphasising that many returnees find it hard to rebuild “viable and dignified lives” in a nation still grappling with conflict, poverty and weak infrastructure.