In brief
In 2026, more than 1.3 million Afghans have flown back from Iran and Pakistan, according to the International Organization for Migration. The influx strains already fragile local infrastructure, forcing IOM to appeal for $8.8 million in inter‑agency aid to provide emergency shelter and winter supplies. The agency urges urgent donor support before snow cuts remote regions off during harsh weather.
In a Friday announcement from Kabul, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) disclosed that more than 1.3 million Afghans have returned home from neighboring Iran and Pakistan during the first quarter of 2026. The number represents a unprecedented surge in repatriation for the country, which has seen a steady outflow of its citizens since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Scale of the Return Movement
IOM officials highlighted that the influx is occurring at a pace that exceeds last‑year’s totals, adding new layers of complexity to community resilience planning. "Families are returning to communities where housing and basic services are already under severe strain," said Mihyung Park, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Afghanistan. "Winter is now adding another urgent need," Park added, noting that the returnees are arriving just as temperatures drop further and snowfall threatens to isolate remote areas.
Funding and Emergency Response
Amid the mounting pressure, IOM is calling on international donors to close an *inter‑agency funding gap*—a shortfall in pooled resources from multiple agencies—of $8.8 million. This amount would be used to procure emergency shelter, winterization kits and essential household items for internally displaced persons and recent returnees before severe weather further cuts access to underserved communities.
Pakistan and Iran continue to serve as primary transit hubs for Afghans seeking to return, with transportation networks shifting to accommodate the sudden rise in flow. Local and national authorities report that utility systems, water supplies and healthcare facilities in many areas are already stretched beyond capacity. The sudden population increase threatens to overwhelm already fragile services that have struggled under years of conflict and economic decline.
Winter in the western and southern regions of Afghanistan poses additional challenges. The IOM report notes that frost and snow are likely to block access to high‑altitude villages for weeks, limiting emergency support shipments. The organization therefore emphasizes the urgency of placing funds into immediate construction contracts for temporary housing units and protective coatings for existing shelters.
Donor countries have reacted with cautious interest, while some have pledged modest contributions earmarked for specific relief efforts. IOM indicates that a coordinated approach—combining mobilized funding, logistics and infrastructure development—will be essential to mitigate the risk of widespread hardship in the coming months.
In summary, the repatriation of more than 1.3 million Afghans has placed unprecedented strain on communities at risk of winter isolation. With an open funding gap and limited resources, the IOM’s appeal for $8.8 million underscores the urgent need for coordinated international support to preserve living standards and prevent a humanitarian crisis as the Arctic chill gathers.
