The top official of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Afghanistan has called on Pakistan to maintain its long-standing humanitarian approach toward Afghan refugees. He urged the government to extend the legal stay for those still in need of international protection, especially for groups at heightened risk if forced to return.
Aid Operations in Afghanistan Suspended
In a statement from Geneva on Friday, Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR Representative to Afghanistan, said the agency is ready to support Pakistan in developing practical ways to identify vulnerable individuals and expand regulated migration pathways for Afghans. He also urged regional countries to ensure all returns remain voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable, emphasizing that no one should be forced back into danger or to a country already struggling to absorb new arrivals.
“Without additional funding, we will not be able to sustain life-saving assistance for Afghan families facing these overlapping crises,” Jamal said. He has updated the regional appeal for returns, now calling for $258.6 million.
Repatriation Pace Accelerates, UN Faces Obstacles
As Pakistan resumes its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” more than 554,000 Afghans have returned since April, with a significant surge in August and September. In the first week of September alone, nearly 100,000 people crossed back from Pakistan, straining capacities to the limit.
UNHCR and its partners are providing immediate assistance to returnees—including cash support and essential services—to help families rebuild their lives. However, UNHCR has been forced to temporarily suspend operations at its cash and support centers in Afghanistan because the authorities have prevented national female UN staff from entering UN compounds.
Jamal said the agency closed eight centers on September 9 due to the ban on female aid workers. He explained in a press briefing that this was an operational decision, not a political one, because “it is not possible to serve women without female staff.” He called the move a “huge step” that is causing “an enormous amount of suffering,” as these centers typically help around 7,000 people a day. He added that a key part of the work, including personal interviews and biometrics, cannot be performed by men on Afghan women.
UN Calls for Lifting of Restrictions on Women
The United Nations in Afghanistan has called on Taliban authorities to lift the restrictions on women national staff. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned in a statement that “these measures are putting life-saving humanitarian assistance and other essential services for hundreds of thousands of people affected by a recent deadly earthquake at risk.”
UNHCR cautioned that a “crisis within a crisis” is emerging, as forced returns from Pakistan coincide with devastating earthquakes in the same areas where returnees are arriving. Since the beginning of the year, about 2.6 million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries, many against their will.
Jamal expressed gratitude for the support UNHCR has received but cautioned, “our resources are running out quickly.” He noted that in the earthquake-affected areas, UNHCR is distributing thousands of tents and other relief items to help families who have lost their homes for a second time.
