Nearly 3M Afghan Migrants Return in 2025, UN Warns of Humanitarian Strain

DID Press: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said nearly 2.78 million Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan since the start of 2025, marking one of the largest return waves in recent years.

According to OCHA data, more than 1.088 million returnees arrived from Iran, while nearly 899,000 crossed back from Pakistan. The remainder returned from other countries in the region.

OCHA warned that women, girls and children are among the most vulnerable groups within the returnee population. Assessments indicate that nearly one-third of those who have returned are women and girls, many of whom face acute challenges including lack of shelter, limited access to healthcare and education, and severe livelihood constraints.

The UN agency urged the international community to scale up immediate support to meet the basic needs of returnees and cautioned that the influx is placing additional pressure on local infrastructure in Afghanistan’s border areas and major cities.