Countries: Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan Source: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Please refer to the attached files. KABUL – During a visit to the Islam Qala border crossing, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva called for immediate international support for relief efforts as she witnessed the staggering daily influx of tens of thousands of Afghan returnees.“What should be a positive homecoming moment for families who fled conflict decades ago is instead marked by exhaustion, trauma, and profound uncertainty,” said Otunbayeva, after meeting with returnee families, assistance partners and regional de facto officials.“The sheer volume of returns—many abrupt, many involuntary—should be setting off alarm bells across the global community. It is a test of our collective humanity. Afghanistan, already grappling with drought, and a chronic humanitarian crisis, cannot absorb this shock alone,” she said.Despite determined efforts of UN agencies and local authorities, and a powerful public outpouring of practical support to the returnees, the pace and scale of returns are overwhelming already fragile support systems.More than 1.3 million Afghans have returned so far in 2025, straining communities across a country where 70% of people live in poverty. Women and children face the gravest risks—returning not only to dire economic hardships, but to a context where their access to basic services and social protections remains severely constrained.Meanwhile, humanitarian operations remain dangerously underfunded, forcing agonizing choices between food, shelter, and safe passage.SRSG Otunbayeva also underscored the criticality of immediate reintegration assistance—initial evidence shows that stabilizing return communities requires urgent livelihood programmes and community infrastructure investments. Without swift interventions, remittance losses, labour market pressures, and cyclical migration will lead to devastating consequences such as the further destabilization of both returnee and host populations, renewed displacement, mass onward movement, and risks to regional stability.SRSG Otunbayeva appealed to donors, development partners, and regional governments: “Do not turn away. The returnees must not be abandoned. What we are witnessing are the direct consequences of unmet global responsibilities. We must act now—with resources, with coordination, and with resolve.”The United Nations in Afghanistan is calling for an integrated approach that resources humanitarian needs while at the same time scaling up assistance in areas of return.In parallel, regional dialogue – including with Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states – must be prioritized, to halt disorderly returns and uphold the principle of voluntary, dignified and safe repatriation.“Afghanistan’s stability hinges on shared responsibility: We cannot afford indifference; the cost of inaction will be measured in lives lost and conflicts reignited,” Otunbayeva said.