The Numbers Behind the Crisis

The scale of the crisis is staggering, with returnees arriving in Afghanistan under dire circumstances:

• 3 million returnees expected by the end of 2025, including 2 million from Iran and 1.6 million from Pakistan (WHO, UNHCR).

• Between June 1 and June 15, over 71,000 returnees crossed into Afghanistan, with 91% entering from Iran (WHO).

• On June 26 alone, 36,100 Afghans returned in a single day, marking the sharpest rise in daily returns (UNHCR).

• In just one week (June 19–25), 88,308 Afghans were expelled from Iran, a fivefold increase in deportations (IOM).

These figures highlight the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian action to address the immediate and long-term needs of Afghan returnees.

Afghanistan is grappling with one of the most severe humanitarian crises in its history, as the forced return of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan reaches alarming levels. According to international reports, the number of returnees may exceed 3 million by the end of 2025, with over 1.2 million already returned this year alone. This mass influx is straining Afghanistan’s already fragile resources, leaving families hungry, homeless, and vulnerable to disease and exploitation.

Photo: AVA

Photo: The Shillong Times

Photo: Bsira Hakimi

Key Challenges Faced by Returnees

Hunger and Malnutrition:

• 15.8 million Afghans face "crisis" or worse levels of food insecurity, with 1.6 million children acutely malnourished (WFP, UNICEF).

• Families report skipping meals, with many children at risk of severe malnutrition.

Lack of Shelter:

• 85% of returnees lack permanent housing, with families crammed into overcrowded camps like Islam Qala and Spin Boldak (IRC).

• Camps are operating beyond capacity, leaving many families exposed to harsh conditions.

• Rising cases of respiratory infections, diarrhea, hypertension, and mental disorders among returnees (WHO).

• Limited access to healthcare, with shortages of doctors, medicines, and mobile health teams.

Health Crises:

Protection Risks:

• Women and children, who make up 60% of returnees, are at heightened risk of exploitation and abuse (UNICEF).

• Inadequate protection mechanisms leave vulnerable groups exposed to harm.

Extreme Heat Conditions:

• Returnees are facing scorching temperatures, with limited access to shaded areas, clean water, and cooling facilities.

• Prolonged exposure to heat is exacerbating health risks, particularly for children and the elderly.

Voices from the Ground

The stories of returnees paint a harrowing picture of the crisis:

Lal Marjan, a mother of six from Kunar province, shared:

“We received no assistance, neither cash nor medical help. After the Iran-Israel war, the situation for Afghans became very bad. Our documents expired. We barely made it to Afghanistan. Iranian police treated us very badly.”

Seyed Hossein, a returnee from Kapisa, said:

“We were detained by Iranian police and expelled. After arriving in Herat, we received no aid—not even bread. Neither the government nor UNHCR helped. Now we face extreme poverty and unemployment.”

These voices underscore the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to support Afghan returnees in rebuilding their lives.

“We were deported from Iran with nothing — we left behind our house, savings, and everything we had. It has been 20 days since we returned. We arrived during the Eid holidays, and everything was closed. We received no help at all — not from the government, not from UNHCR. My children sleep under the open sky. We have no water, no food, and I am pregnant. There is no clinic, no medicine, and no one to support us. All we ask for is a proper shelter, clean water, electricity, and a chance for my children to go to school.”

Raheema is currently living in an open compound with her children, without a roof or basic services. Her condition is particularly alarming due to her pregnancy and the complete lack of healthcare access. She urgently needs emergency assistance, including food, water, maternal health support, and access to safe shelter and education for her children.

– Raheema – Pregnant Mother of Three, Forcibly Deported from Iran

Compassionate Afghanistan’s Response

Compassionate Afghanistan is on the ground, working tirelessly to address the urgent needs of Afghan returnees. Our team and volunteers are stationed at border points like Islam Qala and Spin Boldak, closely collaborating with local authorities, international organizations, and community leaders to provide life-saving assistance.

Our Key Interventions:

Emergency Relief:

• Distributing food packages and clean drinking water to ensure families have access to basic necessities.

• Operating community kitchens in camps to serve hot, nutritious meals to returnees.

Shelter and Cooling Facilities:

• Setting up temporary shelters to protect families from the heat and provide shaded areas.

• Providing access to cooling stations and clean water to mitigate the effects of extreme heat.

• Deploying mobile health teams to provide maternal and child healthcare, vaccinations, and treatment for illnesses.

• Supplying essential medicines to treat malnutrition, infections, and chronic illnesses.

Healthcare and Medical Support:

Hygiene and Sanitation:

• Providing hygiene kits with soap, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, and other essentials.

• Installing temporary toilets and washing stations to prevent the spread of disease.

Protection Services:

• Establishing child-friendly spaces and safe zones for women and children.

• Offering psychosocial support to trauma-affected individuals.

Challenges on the Ground

Despite our efforts, the scale of the crisis is overwhelming, and resources are stretched thin. Key challenges include:

• Overcrowded Camps: Facilities at border points are operating beyond capacity, leaving many families without adequate shelter or services.

• Funding Gaps: Only a fraction of returnees are receiving the support they need due to limited funding and resources.

• Healthcare Shortages: A lack of medical staff, medicines, and mobile health teams is hindering our ability to address rising health needs.

• Protection Risks: Women and children remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, with insufficient protection mechanisms in place.

Our ground team and volunteers are actively engaged in assessing the urgent needs of Afghan returnees. Compassionate Afghanistan is fully committed to contributing to life-saving efforts and restoring dignity to those affected. Our team is working tirelessly, day and night, to utilize available resources and initiate fundraising efforts. Based on the support of our partners, donors, and financial resources, we aim to provide critical aid and support to those in need. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Afghan returnees and help them rebuild their futures.

Compassionate Afghanistan’s Commitment

Compassionate Afghanistan is committed to providing life-saving aid to Afghan returnees, but we cannot do it alone. We urgently need your support to scale up our response and reach more families in need. Your contributions can help us provide food, water, shelter, healthcare, and protection to those who need it most.

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Sources and Acknowledgments

This update is based on reports from international organizations and media outlets, including:

• World Health Organization (WHO), June 25, 2025

• International Organization for Migration (IOM), June 27, 2025

• UNHCR/AP, June 28, 2025

• Afghan local media: Tolo News, RFE/RL

• Afghanistan International

• 8AM Media

• Tehran Times

Disclaimer

This news update is compiled from publicly available information and reports from international organizations. Compassionate Afghanistan is not responsible for the accuracy of external data but is committed to providing timely updates on the humanitarian crisis.