UN urges sustained international aid for Afghanistan amid deportation crisis

The United Nations is calling for continued international investment and support for Afghanistan as the country grapples with a massive influx of returning citizens. This surge is driven by widespread arrests and deportations of Afghans living abroad, placing immense pressure on communities already struggling with severe poverty, climate challenges, and scarce economic prospects.

Two senior UN officials, Alexander De Croo, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), issued a joint appeal after concluding a visit to Afghanistan. They met with Taliban government officials and visited UN-supported programs. The officials stressed the urgent need for "sustained investment in Afghanistan" to manage "one of the world's largest return movements."

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provide urgent and sustained investment in Afghanistan, as one of the world's largest return movements is placing immense pressure on communities grappling with acute poverty, climate crises, and limited economic opportunities.

According to UN figures, over 6 million Afghans have returned to the country since 2023, with approximately 2.9 million returning in 2025 alone. More than 900,000 have returned so far this year, and an additional 2.5 million are expected by the end of 2026. De Croo emphasized that ongoing international investment could help these returnees contribute to Afghanistan's recovery and stability.

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international investment could help the returnees become contributors to the recovery and stability of Afghanistan.

Salih added that long-term recovery requires more than just emergency aid, highlighting the necessity of protection, opportunities, and dignity for all Afghans, particularly women and girls. The UN also noted that less than half of the returnees possess documentation linking them to Afghanistan, hindering their access to services and economic opportunities. A staggering 92% of returnees cannot meet their basic needs.

This diplomatic appeal comes after Pakistan's Interior Ministry ordered the immediate arrest of any Afghan citizen without a valid visa, intensifying a campaign of mass deportations that began in September 2023. Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced severe international isolation, leading to a drastic reduction in humanitarian aid and the most significant funding cuts in decades.

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long-term recovery requires something more than emergency assistance.