UNHCR faces funding crisis as Afghan returnees N

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned of a severe funding shortfall as it struggles to support Afghan migrants returning from Pakistan and Iran. In a recent report, UNHCR said it had received only $9 million of the $179.1 million required for the first quarter of 2025 — just 6% of its target.

The agency noted that the funding gap has hindered its ability to provide adequate aid, with emergency shelter and hygiene supplies reaching only 183,299 people, or 17% of those in need. UNHCR also highlighted that recent natural disasters, including flooding, have further increased the vulnerability of returnees.

The crisis coincides with Pakistan’s ongoing deportation campaign, which entered its second phase on March 31. Many Afghans have reported mistreatment during the deportations, including the confiscation of personal belongings by police. Pakistan has defended the policy, with Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stating that opposition to the deportations equates to hostility toward the country.

Iran has also stepped up deportations over the past two years, carrying out mass arrests and removals of Afghan migrants in various cities. UNHCR continues to call for greater international support to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of returning Afghans.