Migration organization warns it can only help 1 in 10 Afghan returnees amid deportations

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued a stark warning that it can only assist 10% of Afghan returnees, as mass deportations from neighboring countries overwhelm already fragile humanitarian systems.

According to Khaama Press, more than 256,000 Afghans were deported from Iran in the month of June alone. From January to early June, over 714,000 migrants have returned from Iran — many of them forcibly expelled. The scale of the crisis is growing rapidly, with recent weeks seeing as many as 30,000 people deported in a single day.

The IOM says its ability to respond is severely constrained due to lack of funding, leaving hundreds of thousands without food, shelter, or medical support. With nearly 900,000 returnees expected from Iran and Pakistan by the end of the year, the pressure on Afghanistan’s social services is approaching breaking point.

The United Nations has also raised concerns, revealing that 99% of returnees lack legal documentation and 70% were forcibly deported. These conditions create immense challenges for reintegration, particularly in a country grappling with economic collapse, drought, and conflict-driven displacement.

Humanitarian organizations warn that the surging number of returnees, many of them vulnerable women and children, could tip Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure into further crisis. Basic services — from housing and health care to employment and sanitation — are stretched beyond capacity.

The IOM has urged the international community to urgently scale up assistance, warning that without immediate support, the country faces worsening instability. Aid groups say targeted intervention is needed to prevent a full-scale humanitarian disaster and support returnees in rebuilding their lives with dignity.