TORKHAM - We are witnessing a mass movement of people far in excess of predictions, said the UN’s top envoy to Afghanistan during a visit Saturday to the Torkham crossing point with Pakistan in eastern Afghanistan.

“The sheer numbers have the potential to worsen an already fragile situation, and we are particularly concerned by the limited time and resources available to prepare shelter before winter sets in,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Mr. Yamamoto, joined by other UN officials, including Mark Bowden, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, spoke with government representatives and members of the displaced community to assess the situation at Torkham, the busiest port of entry between the two countries.

A cumulative estimate suggests that more than 1 million people have been displaced across Afghanistan since 2002. By the end of 2016, a repatriation caseload of 220,000 documented and as many as 400,000 undocumented returnees are anticipated, a much higher number than planned for by UN or humanitarian aid agencies.

The United Nations, said Mr. Yamamoto, is committed to long-term support for the country and its people, and has a common goal of a stable, self-sufficient Afghanistan that is secure, and meets the needs and aspirations of its people.

More than 20 different UN entities are present in the country, working to support the Afghan government’s priorities through a broad spectrum of development and humanitarian activities, including through support for development planning, resource mobilization, and coordination of international donors and organizations.