KABUL: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a report said today that by the end of this year (2025), over 2.8 million Afghan migrants, primarily from neighboring countries (Iran and Pakistan), will have returned to Afghanistan.
The returning Afghan families, who have come back with minimal resources, are suffering from a lack of shelter and employment, said the report adding that the organization has initiated a multi-agency program named “Sustainable Solutions” in eastern Afghanistan to address the needs of returnees, supported by the Afghanistan Special Trust Fund (STAF).
In this program, which involves nine UN agencies, the focus is on strengthening basic services and market systems, creating sustainable and inclusive livelihoods, and supporting the empowerment and leadership of women through a community-based developmental approach.
The UN highlighted the urgent needs of returnees for work and shelter while noting that the leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has recently ordered cash and wheat distributions to them.
Additionally, the process of distributing land and establishing designated settlements for returnees is actively ongoing in nearly 30 provinces across the country.
Nearly 3 million Afghans return home in 2025, UN says
