Afghanistan remains one of the most crisis-ridden, dangerous and violent countries in the world, as unstable political transitions and precarious security continue to take a heavy toll.
In 2016 the conflict - a continued battle for control between beleaguered Afghan forces and both ISIS and the Taliban - has led to unprecedented levels of displacement, with 1.5 million internally-displaced and 3 million refugees. Almost 1 million people, half of whom are children, have already returned from Iran and Pakistan. At least half a million more are expected to return this year, despite a starkly deteriorating economic, political and security situation within the country.
Most of those returning have lived outside of Afghanistan for decades, and will require urgent support from a beleaguered government – already under enormous strain – as well as international humanitarian actors. With a 40% unemployment rate, one-fourth of the population living in severe food insecurity, 9 million in humanitarian need across the country and in the midst of a losing fight against two insurgencies, the world is relocating its refugee problem to a country that stands no chance of ever solving it.
Meet some of the returning Afghans the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is assisting —both in Nangarhar province, where the majority of returnees from Pakistan are arriving, and urban areas like Kabul.
