UN-Habitat Calls for Urgent Support as Afghan Returnees Face Severe Challenges

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Afghanistan has released a report on the situation facing Afghan returnees via its official account on social media platform X.

Challenges Faced by Returnees

In its message highlighting the harsh realities of returnees, the agency noted, “Starting anew from scratch” reflects the situation of many Afghans who have come back home.

UN-Habitat emphasized that given the urgent needs of these individuals, access to shelter is the first step towards restoring dignity and achieving recovery. According to the statement, the United Nations, in collaboration with its partners, is assisting returning Afghans by providing shelter and essential services.

Concerns Over Resource Shortages Amid Increased Returns

Furthermore, the international organization pointed out the extensive nature of the return crisis, stating that existing support programs require significantly more resources. UN-Habitat explicitly called for increased global assistance, asserting, “We need to do more.”

The appeal for help comes at a time when over 2 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, in the past two years. This ongoing trend, fueled by the stringent policies of these countries, is placing unprecedented pressure on Afghanistan’s infrastructure and the service capabilities of international organizations.