UN Reports Pressure on Afghan Services from Reduced Aid and Increased Migrant Returns

The United Nations has reported that reduced humanitarian aid in 2025 placed essential services across Afghanistan under significant pressure. The situation was worsened by a series of factors including large numbers of returning migrants, population growth, climate pressures, natural disasters and operational restrictions.

In spite of these difficulties, the UN and its partners were able to provide assistance to more than 34 million people. This included health care for millions of Afghans, educational programs for 4.6 million children and the creation of approximately 45,000 long-term jobs. The world body highlighted the resilience shown by communities in developing greater self-reliance.

Separately, the International Organization for Migration documented a sharp rise in Afghan migrant returns from Pakistan and Iran during the first quarter of 2026. The number of returnees from Pakistan was 15 times higher than during the same period in 2025. Following the reopening of the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings, returns surged from 2,320 to more than 42,000 in just the past two weeks.

Returns from Iran rose 56 percent, with notable increases at border points including 81 percent at the Silk Bridge and 43 percent at Islam Qala, although overall numbers were 30 percent lower than in 2025. The IOM said tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have made conditions more difficult for Afghan migrants in Pakistan. It added that more than 20 Afghan migrants lost their lives in joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran.