Forced back and left behind: Conditions for urban returnees and the urgent need for local integration in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a large-scale returns crisis, with 5.7 million people forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since October 2023. In a country already experiencing widespread poverty, malnutrition, and displacement, this scale of return is placing severe pressure on communities, services, and labor markets. 

This report is not representative of all forced returnees but instead provides a snapshot of the lived experiences of selected households in urban areas. It examines their situation and argues for a shift in policy and operational focus to also prioritize local integration as a credible pathway to durable solutions, as current approaches remain heavily centered on return to areas of origin. 

Drawing on data from 389 returnees across six cities, the findings show a consistent pattern: the trajectory is not one of reintegration, but of deepening and prolonged hardship. As savings are depleted, income opportunities remain scarce, and support is limited, families struggle to meet even their most basic needs. Debt accumulates, reliance on host communities becomes unsustainable, and risks to health and wellbeing increase.  

Despite these challenges, local integration is the preference of some forced returnees. International standards set out three durable solutions, return to area of origin, local integration, and resettlement, and affirm the right of individuals to choose where they rebuild their lives. However, in practice, local integration remains largely out of reach without sustained and targeted support, particularly for livelihoods, housing, and basic services. 

The findings also have direct relevance for international policy discussions. Conditions on the ground raise serious concerns regarding the sustainability and safety of any returns to Afghanistan, particularly where people are unable to meet their most basic needs over sustained periods.