Kabul, Afghanistan | July 29, 2025— Over 1.5 million Afghan returnees in 2025 have actively returned from neighboring Iran and Pakistan during the first half of 2025, according to a comprehensive report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This mass movement marks one of the largest waves of Afghan returnees in recent years and sheds light on the growing humanitarian needs faced by these displaced individuals.
Massive Wave of Afghan Returnees in 2025
In its latest update, OCHA confirmed that between January 1 and July 19, 2025, over 1.5 million Afghan returnees in 2025 crossed back into Afghanistan. Notably, Iran accounted for nearly 1.2 million of these returns, underscoring a significant shift in migration trends across the region.
By comparison, Pakistan witnessed the return of approximately 300,000 Afghan nationals. While the majority of returnees from Iran lacked documentation, the profile of returnees from Pakistan revealed a more mixed demographic. According to the report, 62% of Afghan returnees in 2025 from Pakistan were undocumented, 25% carried Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and the rest held Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) or had asylum applications under process.
This extensive return of Afghan nationals in 2025 has triggered urgent calls for humanitarian support from international organizations and local authorities alike. As the returnees struggle to reintegrate, the country is now facing unprecedented pressure on its already strained resources.
Children Constitute a Significant Portion of Returnees
In addition to the sheer volume of returning Afghans, the age profile of returnees also presents serious concerns. OCHA’s findings revealed that children under 18 made up 43% of returnees from Iran, while 53% of Afghan returnees from Pakistan were children. This highlights the vulnerable nature of the population returning to Afghanistan, many of whom are likely to require long-term care, education, and psychosocial support.
Furthermore, many of these young returnees are arriving with limited access to basic services. Without immediate assistance, these children risk falling into cycles of poverty and marginalization. The Afghan government, with the support of humanitarian partners, must therefore prioritize child-centered interventions in all response strategies.
Urgent Humanitarian Needs Rise Across Afghanistan
As Afghan returnees pour into provinces along the border, including Nimruz, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar, they are encountering immense difficulties. OCHA emphasized that the top humanitarian needs among these populations include:
- Emergency healthcare
- Shelter
- Clean water and sanitation
- Transportation
- Cash assistance
These needs are especially critical for undocumented Afghan returnees, many of whom return empty-handed and lack any form of legal or social protection. In particular, the absence of shelter and clean drinking water has become a growing concern in border regions, where infrastructure is already weak or nonexistent.
Moreover, with limited job opportunities and an unstable economy, Afghan returnees are finding it difficult to rebuild their lives. Women and children, in particular, are at increased risk of exploitation, abuse, and malnutrition. Humanitarian agencies are calling for sustained international support and urgent funding to ensure that basic services are delivered without delay.
Afghan Returnees in 2025 Face Complex Reintegration Challenges
The reintegration of Afghan returnees in 2025 remains a complex and multifaceted challenge. Besides immediate humanitarian assistance, the long-term rehabilitation of returnees demands strategic planning, community engagement, and governmental support. OCHA has urged both international donors and Afghan authorities to collaborate closely to design programs that foster sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, and psychological recovery.
In light of these developments, aid agencies continue to stress the importance of establishing returnee support centers at key entry points. These centers could serve as hubs for distributing aid, registering new arrivals, and connecting returnees to services such as vocational training, mental health counseling, and legal aid.
As the number of Afghan returnees in 2025 continues to rise, the window for effective response is rapidly narrowing. The international community must act swiftly and decisively to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe that could jeopardize the fragile gains Afghanistan has made in recent years.
