KABUL - The United Nations, together with national and international NGO partners launched today the 2026 Response Plan for Afghan Returnees (RPAR), a comprehensive strategy focussed on supporting returnees as they arrive at border crossing points through to the communities where they settle across Afghanistan. The plan aims to reach an estimated 2.7 million Afghans projected to return from Iran and Pakistan between April and December 2026.
Since September 2023, nearly 5.9 million Afghans have returned to the country – an increase of 10 to 12 per cent of Afghanistan’s population in just over two years (excluding the year-on-year population growth estimated at 2.74% in 2026). In 2025 alone, 2.9 million returnees arrived, followed by another 600,000 in the first four months of 2026.
The response plan launched today projects a further 1.7 million estimated returns from Iran and 1.1 million from Pakistan in the coming eight‑months period.
“This is not a short‑term border event. It is a profound demographic and development challenge that requires a sustained, principled, and fully funded response,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, a.i. for Afghanistan. “Over half of those returning are women and children, many of whom were born and raised outside Afghanistan. They either have weak or no ties to their communities of origin. While immediate humanitarian assistance at reception points remains essential, without medium‑term investment in livelihoods, housing, clean water, health, and protection, we risk secondary displacement, deepening poverty, and social tensions that will affect both returnees and the host communities.”
The 2026 RPAR is built on a two-tier strategy, highlighting the importance of investment in both border (emergency and lifesaving) and (re-)integration (medium to long-term needs).
- Border response (US$ 100.7 million): lifesaving multi‑sectoral assistance – including multi‑purpose cash, health, nutrition, protection, WASH, and transport – delivered at key official crossing points with Iran and Pakistan, by the Border Consortium, led by IOM.
- (Re‑)integration response in Areas of Return (US$ 428.5 million): aiming to provide assistance for families to rebuild their lives safely and with dignity while strengthening services and reducing pressure on host communities in 35 priority districts where needs are highest. Interventions focus on restoring access to essential services (education, health, WASH), creating economic opportunities and resilient livelihoods, and securing housing and land rights – all underpinned by the centrality of protection, gender equality, and social cohesion, coordinated by Durable Solution Working Group.
“The scale of need is immense, but so is the collective capacity of UN agencies, NGOs, and our partners,” added (Ms) Thamindri De Silva, Country Director of World Vision International. “The border consortium alone requires US$ 100.7 million. This figure only covers 40 per cent of the most vulnerable returnees, even though 70 per cent meet our vulnerability criteria. Funding gaps at the border directly affect our ability to address risks and support sustainable reintegration.”
The launch event, held in Kabul, brought together representatives from the donor governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and media. A recording of the event and the full response plan will be available upon request.
The United Nations and NGO partners urge donors to fully fund the 2026 RPAR to prevent a deterioration of the humanitarian and protection crisis and to build a foundation for recovery, sustainable (re-)integration, and resilience for millions of Afghans.
