The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has warned that the return of millions of migrants to Afghanistan has placed increasing pressure on the country’s urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
In a report released on Tuesday, July 7, the agency said that approximately 2.8 million people have returned to Afghanistan in 2025 alone.
According to the report, nearly two million more people are expected to return to the country in 2026.
The UN agency said the growing number of returnees has increased the need for sustainable settlements, adequate housing, and expanded social infrastructure.
UN-Habitat said the assessment is intended to support planning and decision-making on investments in settlements to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returnees across Afghanistan.
The report comes after the United Nations previously warned that Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
