In brief
The IOM said more than 1.3 million Afghans returned from neighboring countries in 2026, warning that already stretched communities face severe housing and service shortages. Afghan returnees require urgent shelter and winter supplies as snow threatens to isolate vulnerable groups. The agency urges donors to close an $8.8 million funding gap to deliver emergency aid before severe weather hits.
KABUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) — More than 1.3 million Afghans have returned from neighboring Iran and Pakistan so far in 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday, noting that the accelerating wave of returns is intensifying pressure on communities already stretched to breaking point.
The IOM’s Chief of Mission in Afghanistan, Mihyung Park, highlighted the immediate impact on local infrastructure and services.
"Families are returning to communities where housing and basic services are already under severe strain. Winter is now adding another urgent need,"Park said, adding that the organization is calling for funding to help families find shelter and keep warm before snow cuts access to remote areas.
Park’s remarks come amid reports that Afghan returnees are largely arriving in rural districts where housing stock is limited and health care facilities are already operating at capacity. The sudden influx has triggered acute shortages of electricity, clean water and sanitation facilities in several provinces.
The IOM says the short‑term fallout will transform these already precarious conditions into a crisis, especially as the country enters the deep winter months, when temperatures can plummet to below zero degrees Celsius and snow can block mountain passes.
To address the looming emergency, the IOM has appealed to donors to close an 8.8 million U.S. dollars inter‑agency funding gap. The requested funds are earmarked for emergency shelter, winterization kits and essential household items.
According to IOM officials, the gap represents the shortfall between the projected costs of delivering aid to the affected communities and the amount of money pledged by international partners. The organization argued that without immediate funding, vulnerable populations—including internally displaced people and recent returnees—could become isolated as heavy snowfall reduces road connectivity.
“The funding gap threatens to stall the deployment of crucial resources,” Park said. “We need donors to act quickly so that the short-term relief can reach those who need it most.”
The IOM said that arrangements are in place to distribute winterization kits — comprising blankets, fuels, and basic food supplies — to households in the most affected districts. Besides immediate relief, the organization also stresses the importance of community outreach to inform residents about safe housing practices during extreme weather.
In addition to material support, the IOM is coordinating with Afghan local authorities to monitor the spread of cold‑related illnesses and to strengthen emergency response pathways.
Despite the urgency highlighted by the IOM, local media outlets have expressed skepticism about the allocation of aid, citing concerns over mismanagement and uneven distribution among different ethnic groups in the region. However, IOM officials remain confident that a coordinated international effort can mitigate the crisis if the funding gap is filled promptly.
The rising number of returnees also raises questions about the long‑term sustainability of Afghan public services. Analysts suggest that the government will need to expand housing, education and health care infrastructure to accommodate the surge in population after the core wave of repatriations stabilizes.
International partner nations have pledged variable amounts of financial support. Some donors, including members of the European Union and the United States, have reiterated the importance of maintaining investment in Afghanistan’s social safety net, but the total amount currently committed remains below the target necessary to close the funding gap.
According to the IOM, the immediate priority is to secure the $8.8 million in order to provide housing and winter supplies. However, partners may soon look toward longer‑term projects aimed at strengthening local resilience against climate disruptions and future migration spells.
The IOM concluded that the volume of returnees seen so far confirms the need for “proactive funding” and “swift mobilization of resources.” These statements underscore the agency’s view that the most vulnerable will suffer the largest impact if the current strain on basic services is not addressed decisively.
As the Afghan winter deepens, the IOM continues to monitor conditions closely, calling on the international community to respond with the necessary resources to safeguard communities at risk of isolation and severe hardship.