Since the start of 2025, more than 2 million migrants — including around 500,000 children — have returned to Afghanistan from Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries, according to a UNICEF report. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban noted that on July 4 alone, over 50,000 people arrived from Iran — the highest single-day figure of the year, Afintl.af reports.
The mass returns are putting additional pressure on vulnerable communities, where more than half of the population depends on humanitarian aid. During his visit, Chaiban toured border reception points, including Islam Qala and Herat, highlighting severe shortages in education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. UNICEF has reunited more than 6,000 unaccompanied children with their families and is calling for special protection for women and children.
Chaiban expressed deep concern over the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade and urged its immediate reversal. UNICEF is also pressing Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to ensure the safe, gradual, and voluntary return of migrants, while urging donor countries to increase funding for humanitarian programs.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 4 million migrants have returned to Afghanistan over the past two years — calling it one of the largest population movements in the country’s recent history — and appealed for urgent expansion of regional cooperation.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 11, 2025