UNHCR: Daily Return of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan Poses Serious Challenges

KABUL (Hasht-e Subh) -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that thousands of Afghans are returning daily from Pakistan to Afghanistan, confronting serious challenges in securing housing, health services and facing economic difficulties.

In a report issued on Tuesday, February 17, UNHCR said many returnees have been compelled to leave Pakistan due to restrictive policies and poor living conditions, while others have faced forced deportations.

"At the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, families arrive exhausted and anxious, carrying nothing but concerns about how to rebuild their lives in their homeland," the agency stated.

UNHCR has bolstered its presence at key border crossings to monitor protection risks for returnees and deliver immediate assistance, including registration, vulnerability assessments and access to essential services.

These returns occur as Afghanistan grapples with multiple crises, including an economic downturn, drought, earthquakes, floods and a widespread wave of refugee expulsions.

UNHCR previously reported that Afghanistan, already in a critical state, lacks the capacity to accommodate this large influx of returnees.