A newly released report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reveals that 57% of Afghan returnees from Pakistan between January and June 2024 did not have enough food to sustain their families, while nearly half had no food reserves at all.
The survey, covering 2,868 returnees across 30 provinces, highlights the growing humanitarian crisis faced by Afghans forced to return amid widespread economic hardship and insecurity.
Key Findings:
- 47% of families had no food stock at home.
- 29% said their food lasted less than a week after arrival.
- 71% live in unsuitable or temporary shelters, while 66% of female-headed households lacked food access.
- Only 33% of children had access to schools or educational services.
- Over 70% of returnees earned less than $140/month.
- 38% of families said the UN’s cash aid lasted only 2–3 months.
- A significant number returned to provinces like Kabul, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Balkh, and Kunduz.
UNHCR emphasized that with a new wave of mass deportations expected in April 2025, monitoring and response efforts must urgently be scaled up to meet returnees’ needs.