Overview
- Roughly 4.5 million Afghans have returned since 2023, including about 1.5 million forced back this year from Pakistan and Iran.
- More than 90% of returnee households report debt of $373–$900 against average monthly incomes near $100, and over half skip medical treatment to afford food.
- Rents have tripled in high-return areas, over half of families lack adequate space or bedding, and 18% report being displaced again within the past year.
- In districts such as Injil and Guzara, most returnees live in tents or degraded structures, underscoring the scale of the shelter shortfall.
- UN agencies say donor funding has fallen short of the $3.1bn appeal, women’s labor force participation has collapsed to about 6%, and UNDP urges area-based recovery linking livelihoods, services, housing and social cohesion.