Pakistan and Iran have intensified deportation campaigns, leading to an unprecedented movement of nearly six million Afghans returning to Afghanistan since late 2023, with over one million returning in 2026 alone. This massive influx, described by the UNHCR as a scale not seen in recent history, has put immense pressure on Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian and economic systems.
Approximately 654,100 people returned from Pakistan and 426,700 from Iran in 2026, including both voluntary returns and forced deportations. Many returnees arrive with little to no possessions, facing extreme poverty, scarce jobs, and a restrictive domestic environment. While Pakistan recently granted a temporary exemption from deportation for 16,000 vulnerable Afghans, the UN estimates that up to 250,000 Afghans in Pakistan, including women and girls at risk, face serious harm if returned.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is critical, with the UN estimating 21.9 million people, nearly half the country's population, requiring assistance this year. One million children are facing life-threatening malnutrition. Despite the immense need, international funding for aid agencies is severely lacking; the UNHCR, for example, only had eight percent of its requested $216 million funding for 2026 as of February, leading to shortages of clean water, shelter, and medical care at reception facilities. The Taliban's restrictions, particularly on women and girls, are also hindering international support efforts.
