UN-Habitat Raises Alarm Over Afghanistan’s Returnee Crisis

DID Press: UN-Habitat has warned that the growing return of Afghan migrants is intensifying Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and placing additional strain on the country’s already limited resources.

Speaking at the session titled “Housing for Return After Crisis: Delivering Sustainable Solutions” during the World Cities Forum 13 in Baku, Stephanie Loose, head of UN-Habitat’s program in Afghanistan, said the country continues to face severe humanitarian pressures alongside rapid population growth driven by returning migrants.

She stated that since 2023, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan has continued to rise, while ongoing tensions with Pakistan have further worsened conditions.

According to Loose, the forced return of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has increased pressure on Afghanistan’s domestic resources and institutional capacity.

She also compared Afghanistan’s situation with that of Azerbaijan, saying Azerbaijan is viewed as a successful example in integrating liberated areas, whereas land allocated to displaced people in Afghanistan is often unsuitable for sustainable resettlement.