In recent years, our headlines have been dominated by tragic stories of refugees from around the world; but there are some whose plight is less well known. In 2016, some 620,000 Afghan refugees living in Pakistan were forced to leave their homes and return to Afghanistan, into poor communities ill-equipped to support them. In 2017 these numbers have continued to rise. Indeed, in the first 8 months of this year, 82,191 undocumented Afghans returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and the situation for many is desperate. 

With the influx of these returning refugees, along with the increase in natural hazards and instances of extreme weather, the security situation has somewhat deteriorated in Nangahar in recent months. In response to this, at the beginning of this year we opened a brand new office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan's fifth largest city, and our brilliant new provincial team of 18 immediately set to work supporting undocumented refugees as they crossed the border from Pakistan back into Afghanistan. 

Why they need our help

Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. Not only have they lost the daily security that many of us take for granted, but the loss of a permanent place to call home robs individuals of the capacity to live independent and productive lives. In Afghanistan, many of these returnees are second or third-generation refugees, having been born and raised in Pakistan. It is the only home they've ever known. Now, families like Janat's are having to leave close-knit communities for an unfamiliar country already struggling with conflict and internal displacement.

Afghanaid continues to help

The United Nations estimates that around 600,000 refugees will return to Afghanistan in 2017. As the figures continue to rise, we will scale up our support of these displaced families, assisting them as they reintegrate into the local communities and helping them to establish new, secure lives back in Afghanistan.

I want to help vulnerable families.

Read more about how we respond in emergency situations.