KABUL (Pajhwok): More than six million Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, placing immense pressure on services and communities across Afghanistan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday.
Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, made the remarks during a press conference in Kabul ahead of World Refugee Day.
He said Afghanistan was at a critical moment as the observance of World Refugee Day coincides with the continued large-scale return of Afghans from neighboring countries.
Jamal noted that more than 750,000 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan so far this year alone.
He called for increased international support to help address one of the world’s largest and most protracted displacement situations.
Jamal added that despite funding constraints and growing humanitarian needs, UNHCR requires $216.4 million in 2026 to provide protection and assistance to vulnerable Afghans across the country.
According to him, as of May 31, the agency had received only $56.7 million, leaving a funding gap of nearly three-quarters of its requirements and placing critical humanitarian programmes at risk at a time when needs continue to grow.
He said UNHCR and its partners support returnees from the moment they arrive in Afghanistan through their reintegration into communities across the country.
“Last year alone, together with our partners, we assisted more than two million people in Afghanistan. This work forms part of UNHCR’s 50 by 35 initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid by promoting greater self-reliance and social inclusion, while supporting durable solutions for people living in protracted displacement situations,” Jamal said.
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen protection and promote durable solutions, Jamal said UNHCR is launching a new legal identity initiative in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
He said the initiative aims to expand access to legal identity and civil documentation, enabling returnees, displaced persons and other vulnerable communities to access essential services, education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
Jamal added that the programme seeks to mobilize resources over the next three years to issue up to 1.5 million civil documents to Afghans in need, helping restore their legal identity and improve access to rights, services and opportunities.
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