The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent warning as Afghanistan faces a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 1.4 million people, predominantly returnees from Iran and Pakistan, having crossed into the country this year alone. Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s representative in Afghanistan, describes the situation as critical, with the agency struggling to meet demands due to severe funding shortages and the overwhelming pace of returns.

The majority of these returns have been from Iran, where the daily number of returnees spiked dramatically after June 13. Notably, on July 1, a record-breaking 43,000 Afghans returned from Iran, nearly nine times the average daily return rate from earlier in the year. In Pakistan, over 150,000 people have returned since April, driven by intensified crackdowns and enforced deportation deadlines. These returns are often occurring under coercive conditions, raising significant concerns about the safety and well-being of the returnees.

In response, UNHCR has deployed emergency teams to key border crossings such as Islam Qala in Herat Province. These teams provide essential items, hot meals, and emergency cash assistance to the arriving families. Despite their efforts, Jamal warns that without immediate and substantial funding support, these critical operations may be forced to halt within weeks. Currently, the Afghanistan response plan is only 28% funded, far short of the required $216 million.

This influx comes in the wake of strict refugee policies by neighboring countries. In 2023, Pakistan announced its intent to expel over one million undocumented Afghans, many of whom had initially fled due to Taliban persecution. Reports from Human Rights Watch indicate that deportations have targeted vulnerable groups including women, children, and individuals at risk from Taliban retaliation, continuing despite international pleas for leniency.

The situation for returnees in Afghanistan is dire. They face harsh restrictions on women’s rights, economic instability, and extensive poverty. The Taliban-led regime has significantly curtailed public life and formal education for women and girls, leaving them especially vulnerable. According to a recent report by UN Women, there is a near-total exclusion of women from social, economic, and political spheres in Afghanistan, exacerbating the risks for families returning to these conditions.

As the international community watches, the pressure mounts for increased aid and a coherent strategy to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The plight of returnees underscores the urgent need for robust support systems and international solidarity to mitigate the severe challenges they face upon their return.