KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Austria has contributed $1 million to aid Afghan returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan, as mass returns continue amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.
In a statement, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the fund will help strengthen protection services and provide reintegration support to Afghan families, enabling them to return home safely and with dignity.
Mass returns from Iran and Pakistan have surged over the past two years. UNHCR data shows that more than 4 million Afghans have returned or been deported during this period, with over 2.8 million returning in 2025 alone. Many of these returnees face dire conditions, including lack of housing, limited access to healthcare, and food insecurity.
The wave of returns comes amid worsening humanitarian and human rights conditions under Taliban rule. Combined with the impacts of climate change and a decline in global aid, the influx of returning Afghans has further strained the country’s already dire humanitarian situation.
The UN estimates that nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance this year. The UN has called for $1.7 billion to reach over 17 million people prioritized for aid, highlighting the scale of the crisis and the urgent need for international support.