1.3 Million Afghans Back Home This Year; Winter Aid Urgently Needed

Afghanistan is facing a fast-growing humanitarian challenge as more than 1.3 million people have returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2026 alone. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released these figures on Friday, painting a picture of families forced to leave host countries and rebuild their lives at home.

IOM's Mission Head in Afghanistan, Mihyung Park, noted that returnees are settling into areas where housing and basic services are already overstretched. With winter approaching, she said the needs are becoming more pressing by the day.

“Funding is needed right away to help families find shelter and secure warm clothing,” Park said. “Snowfall could soon make remote areas almost impossible to reach, so action cannot wait.”

The growing number of returnees is adding to the pressure on communities that have endured considerable hardship. Many host areas lack the capacity to absorb new arrivals without additional support.

To address the situation, IOM is calling on donors to contribute toward a shortfall of 8.8 million US dollars. The agency aims to provide emergency shelter, winter kits and essential household goods to vulnerable communities, internally displaced people and recent returnees before severe weather sets in.

IOM also noted that about 2.9 million Afghans returned in 2025, reflecting a sustained pattern of movement that shows no sign of easing.