Islamabad: The UN Refugee Agency is urgently seeking funding to protect over 1.4 million people who have returned or been forced to return to Afghanistan so far this year, including over 1 million from Iran.
According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, daily returns from Iran increased significantly after 13 June, with the highest number recorded on 1 July, when over 43,000 people returned. This is a stark increase from the January to June average of 5,000 arrivals per day. From Pakistan, a rapid increase in numbers was observed in April, with nearly 150,000 people returning that month.
UNHCR teams are at the borders, receiving and assisting streams of exhausted, hungry, and scared people every day. Staff and structures are inundated. UNHCR has deployed additional staff and is providing essential relief items, hot meals, and emergency financial assistance to help meet immediate needs. However, amid funding constraints and given the scale and pace of returns, support may not be sustained for more than a few weeks.
UNHCR urges countries in the region to ensure that returns to Afghanistan are voluntary, safe, and dignified. Forcing or pressuring Afghans to return risks further instability in the region and onward movement towards Europe.
UNHCR calls on the international community to urgently and substantially increase funding to meet both critical needs at the border upon arrival and provide longer-term assistance to help returnees settle in Afghanistan. UNHCR’s response in Afghanistan this year is only funded at 28 per cent of a required $216 million.
The global community is urged not to turn away from the people of Afghanistan at this pivotal time and should stand with them to restore hope and give them a fighting chance of recovery, stability, and prosperity.