Over 80,000 Afghan Children Returned from Iran in June, Straining Local Services

Over 80,000 Afghan Children Returned from Iran in June, Straining Local Services
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Save the Children has reported that over 80,000 Afghan children returned from Iran to Afghanistan in June 2025, significantly increasing pressure on the country’s fragile service systems, Khaama Press reported. Among these returnees, approximately 6,700 were unaccompanied children, and around 39% were forcibly returned from Iran.

The surge followed a ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel on June 24, when more than 36,000 people entered Afghanistan in a single day. This unprecedented influx has intensified challenges for Afghanistan’s overwhelmed infrastructure and resources.

Samira Sayed Rahman, Advocacy Manager for Save the Children, described the returning families as exhausted and anxious, often carrying only what they could manage. She urged the international community to urgently address the crisis affecting Afghan children and families.

In response, Save the Children has set up two child support centers in Herat, providing psychological services and safe spaces for children to play. The organization emphasized the critical need for international aid to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

With thousands of children continuing to arrive daily, UNICEF and other organizations are calling for swift, coordinated intervention to mitigate the escalating crisis and protect vulnerable Afghan children and families.