disaster
Forced back and left behind: Conditions for urban returnees and the urgent need for local integration in Afghanistan
By Danish Refugee Council ReliefWeb
· June 30, 2026
· 2 min read
. Executive summary Afghanistan is facing a large-scale returns crisis, with 5.7 million people forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since October 2023. In a country already experiencing widespread poverty, malnutrition, and displacement, this scale of return is placing severe pressure on communi
Key takeaway 7 million people forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since October 2023.
Why this matters
The massive influx of returnees to Afghanistan poses significant challenges for the country's already strained resources, exacerbating poverty, malnutrition, and displacement. With 5.7 million people forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since October 2023, the pressure on communities, services, and labor markets is severe. The current approach, focused on return to areas of origin, may not be viable for many, as evidenced by the struggles of returnees in urban areas to meet basic needs. Local integration, one of the three durable solutions outlined in international standards, is often the preferred choice, but remains out of reach due to limited support for livelihoods, housing, and basic services. As the international community discusses policy, the situation on the ground in Afghanistan must be considered, particularly the sustainability and safety of returns, highlighting the need for a shift in focus to prioritize local integration and provide targeted support to ensure durable solutions for returnees.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster Published: June 30, 2026 Source: ReliefWeb Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Executive summary Afghanistan is facing a large-scale returns crisis, with 5.7 million people forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since October 2023. In a country already experiencing widespread poverty, malnutrition, and displacement, this scale of return is placing severe pressure on communi
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Danish Refugee Council at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
