Geneva (Agencies)
More than 5.4 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the end of 2023, prompting warnings that aid efforts are becoming severely strained by the daily influx of returnees. The situation highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the challenges of supporting a rapidly growing population.
Afghanistan is facing a worsening food crisis, exacerbated by the mass repatriation of Afghans from neighboring countries, reductions in foreign aid and a struggling economy.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva on Friday, February 13, 2026, Arfat Jamal, a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, expressed deep concern about the sustainability of the returns. “We are very concerned about the sustainability of this return, the huge demographic shock of this number of people – representing around 12% of the population – is pushing us to the brink of collapse,” Jamal said.
Jamal stated that approximately 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan last year, and 150,000 have returned so far this year.
The UNHCR requires $216 million to support returning Afghans this year, but the appeal has only received 8% of the necessary funding, according to Jamal. He added that they “are still monitoring the return or forced return of large numbers of Afghans from neighboring countries in very difficult circumstances.”
