Kabul [Afghanistan], July 15 (ANI): The United Nations has raised alarm over a dramatic surge in Afghan returnees this year, urging urgent global support as more than 1.3 million Afghans have returned home in 2025, Tolo News reported, citing a statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
During a visit to the Islam Qala border crossing, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Roza Otunbayeva voiced deep concern about the speed and conditions of the returns.
“What should be a positive homecoming moment for families who fled conflict decades ago is instead marked by exhaustion, trauma, and profound uncertainty,” Otunbayeva said, describing many of the returns as abrupt and involuntary.
She added that the scale and pace of the influx should be “setting off alarm bells across the global community,” warning that Afghanistan—already grappling with drought, poverty, and a long-standing humanitarian crisis—“cannot absorb this shock alone.”
According to UNAMA, while UN agencies and local authorities are working to respond, the fragile support systems in place are being overwhelmed by the massive inflow of people.
Tolo News highlighted that about 70% of Afghans already live in poverty, and the current surge of returnees is straining the country’s limited resources further. Women and children are among the most vulnerable, often returning to communities where basic services and social protections are scarce.
In addition to logistical challenges, UNAMA cited severe underfunding in humanitarian operations, forcing many families to make “agonising choices between food, shelter, and safe passage.”
Without immediate reintegration support—such as jobs and infrastructure—UNAMA warned of serious risks, including renewed displacement, increased regional instability, labour market pressures, and the loss of remittances.
Appealing directly to the international community and neighbouring countries, Otunbayeva said: “Do not turn away. The returnees must not be abandoned. What we are witnessing are the direct consequences of unmet global responsibilities.”
The UN statement concluded with a call for an integrated approach that addresses both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development in returnee areas.
(ANI)
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